California city aims to punish parents who enable underage drinking

By Staff Writer

City officials in California are trying to hold parents more responsible for cases of underage drinking in their homes.

The San Diego Union-Tribune recently reported that the Del Mar city council has drafted a social host ordinance, which would allow police to cite an adult who "knows" or "should have known" about alcohol use by minors on their property.

The current municipal code prohibits police from entering a private property solely on suspicions of minors using alcohol, which ultimately gives kids a "safe haven" to drink, the news source reports.

The new ordinance would grant law enforcement the authority to enter the property and find an enabling adult, who, if found guilty, could face up to $1,000 in fines and six months in prison.

Children experimenting with alcohol are more likely to encounter trouble in school, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Low academic achievement, substance abuse and delinquent behavior are all linked to alcohol use by minors.