Social Host Ordinance

All About the Social Host Ordinance

“Getting alcohol is easier than checking out a library book!”
(Comment from local high school student in ADAP Peer Focus Groups on the Social Host Ordinance in 2007)

Over 90% of teens say that "home" is the number one place to get and consume alcohol.
A Social Host Ordinance is another tool for law enforcement to use to reduce the incidents of underage drinking in homes and the alcohol-related incidents that go along with underage drinking such as teen pregnancy, sexual assaults, youth violence, contact with law enforcement, incarceration rates, drunken driving, probation violations and, in some cases, death.

Definition of a Social Host Ordinance
The Social Host Ordinance (SHO) is a law that will hold hosts of parties responsible for providing places/locations for underage drinking.

How will a Social Host Ordinance work?
Police officials receive a disturbance call and respond to the scene. If a party is taking place where minors can be seen drinking alcohol, police can proceed to take action under the Social Host Ordinance.

What would happen?
Law enforcement can stop the party. The host of the party can be fined:
$1,000 for the first offence
$2,000 for the second offence

Can I take a class instead of paying the fine?
Yes you can.
For the first offence, you can get the fine waived if you take an approved Alcohol Education class (there is a fee for class).
For the second offence, you can get the fine reduced if you take an approved Alcohol Education class.
No such luck on the third offence.

When the Youth Leaders advocated for passage of the Social Host Ordinance, it was not to punish people, but to fill the gaps. Restaurants, bars and retail outlets have laws that govern their responsible practices. This was not the case for private homes where social hosts are allowing underage youth drinking parties.

We know as well as anyone all the excuses:

“If they are going to drink, they might as well drink at home, where I know they are safe”
Not necessarily. The data shows there is an increase in sexual assaults, teen pregnancy, youth violence, violations of probation terms and in some cases alcohol poisoning, rape and death when underage youth are allowed to drink at someone’s home. And in most cases, there is an adult either furnishing, and/or drinking with the underage youth.

Currently there is a campaign for the passage of a County-wide Social Host Ordinance. We hope that you will join the ADAP Teen Coalition and our prevention partners in supporting the County-wide ordinance. Please write a letter (see sample letter here) to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors asking them to adopt the ordinance.

Be part(y) of the solution!

Link to Social Host Ordinance site: www.socialhost.org.