Committee Continues to Pursue Law Prohibiting Underage Drinking on Private Property

The Lacey Township committee is in the process of amending a law that would deem underage drinking on private property a crime.

“This is one of our initiatives to try to deter underage drinking,” Most said. “I’m glad that this town came together and actually has an ordinance on the books.”

The first reading of the on Thursday evening.

The Municipal Alliance in conjunction with Most and the police department proposed the law that would fine violators $250 for the first offense and $350 for any subsequent offense. The court also could suspend or postpone for six months the driving privileges of the defendant, if convicted.

“It’s not going to solve the problem of underage drinking but it’s another tool that can be used,” Municipal Alliance Coordinator Heather Scanlon previously said.

Scanlon is hoping the new ordinance will create awareness regarding the liabilities of allowing those who are underage to drink on private property, she said.

The ordinance also includes a 911 immunity. If an underage person calls 911 to report an emergency as a result of alcohol consumption, the individual is immune from prosecution.

Most recently attended an Ocean County Developing Alcohol Responsibility Together (DART) meeting. The group received a grant for 2012 that will do an evaluation and analyses of each municipality, he said.

“You can only imagine our problematic area,” Most said. “We talk about it all the time, prescription drug abuse and alcohol.”

A judge and the superintendent of the Lacey Township School District will be invited to upcoming township Municipal Alliance meetings, Most said.

“They want to be more proactive,” he said.

Most pointed out that many smokers have quit because of proactive advertising and different regulations that were put in place. Laws similar to this new ordinance could potentially trim drug and alchohol use, he said.

“It really trimmed the smoking,” Most said. “They’re hoping they could do the same thing with prescription drug abuse. It’s hard because they’re always coming up with a new super drug and now the super drug is pain killers.”

Lawmakers are currently considering a legislation that would curtail Oxycodone, he said.

“It’s going to be a long road but they’re serious about dealing with drug abuse and alcoholism,” Most said. “Obviously it takes young peoples lives.”

Most is hoping the community- police, judge, schools and residents- will come together and utilize the new ordinance.

“Sitting back and not understanding what’s going on in the community is definitely not going to help it,” he said. “We need to go out there and address these issues.”

More than 13 municipalities in Ocean County, including Brick Township, have passed similar ordinances. According to a survey conducted by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey in 2007 and 2009, 305 out of 455 communities had enacted a private property ordinance.

Lacey Township must do a second reading of the ordinance before enforcement.