Nassau Legislature debates Social Host Law

Nassau legislators debated a law Monday that would penalize parents for allowing minors to drink on their property. Legis. David Mejias (D-Farmingdale) sponsored the bill, called the Social Host Law,

News 12 Staff

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Jun 18, 2007, 10:46 PM

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Updated 6,400 days ago

Nassau legislators debated a law Monday that would penalize parents for allowing minors to drink on their property.

Legis. David Mejias (D-Farmingdale) sponsored the bill, called the Social Host Law, to hold adults responsible if they facilitate or know about minors drinking at their houses.

"We are not trying to stop every party, just the parties where there is underage drinking," Mejias said. "It is becoming a big problem on Long Island and we need to crack down on it."

Details of the bill have not been finalized, but legislators are considering up to $1,000 in fines and possibly prison time. Lawmakers said they hope to finalize the bill by next month.

The City of Long Beach, the first municipality in New York State to pass a social host law, enacted its law one year ago.

Related Information: Nassau looks to punish hosts of underage drinking