Learn the Law: How States Prevent Underage Drinking

Underage Drinking Parties
Underage drinking parties pose significant public health risks. They are high-risk settings for binge drinking and associated alcohol problems, including impaired driving. Youth and young adults are often introduced to heavy drinking behaviors at these events by older adults. Such parties often occur on private property, with or without the knowledge or presence of a parent or other responsible adult. State host party laws seek to make underage drinking parties less likely by imposing liability on adult hosts who host or allow the parties.
Liability generally occurs through criminal proceedings that can lead to sanctions such as fines or imprisonment.
Liability generally occurs through criminal proceedings that can lead to sanctions such as fines or imprisonment.

These laws apply even if the adult cannot be shown to have furnished the alcohol for the party. Some state host party laws explicitly address underage drinking parties and others are broader in scope and prohibit individuals from allowing underage drinking on their properties generally.

Did you know?
• Only 31 states have host party laws?
• In 23 of those 31 states, laws require that the host knew about the party to trigger liability?
https://go.usa.gov/xsyZv

Learn more about what your state prohibits and how it compares to other states and to national best practices regarding the Hosting Underage Drinking visit https://www.stopalcoholabuse.gov/