Government : Know The Law Concerning Underage Drinking

Underage Drinking is an issue most communities have to deal with and Benton County is no exception. In 2008, 40% of Benton County 11th graders reported using alcohol but those numbers have gradually declined since that time. As of 2014, 21% of 11th graders report using alcohol during the past 30 days of being surveyed. While the decline in students using alcohol is worth noting, it does not change the reality that underage drinking is still an issue in our communities that must be addressed.

For a number of years efforts have been made to address underage drinking through several prevention strategies. One strategy that has been implemented in Benton County and the state of Iowa is known as Social Host. The purpose of this prevention strategy is to hold individuals responsible for providing teens a place to consume alcohol. These efforts target those that provide the environment and situations for underage drinking and even drug use to take place.

In 2012, a Social Host Ordinance was put into effect by the Benton County Supervisors. This ordinance would cover all rural areas of the county but not the incorporated areas. Under this ordinance adults who knowingly allows a person age 20 or younger to consume alcohol or other illegal substances on property under their control would be subject to a $250 fine. Second offense would be a fine of $500 while every offense after would be $1,000.

In April 2014, Governor Terry Branstad signed a Social Host bill into law. This state law provides that an adult host who knowingly allows a person age 17 or younger to consume alcohol is subject to a misdemeanor charge and a $200 fine. Additional violations would result in a $500 fine. Law enforcement offers are free to charge under either the local ordinance or the state law, giving them additional flexibility to determine what is most appropriate. The local ordinance has the added benefit of covering underage persons of 20 years or younger, as opposed to the state’s more limited 17 years or younger.

Ultimately the goal of this strategy is to have all of Benton County covered under the same ordinance. While all of Benton County is covered under the state Social Host law, the intention is to have each of our communities pass an ordinance that takes the same stand as the current county Social Host. This would cover all minors 20 years of age and younger along with going beyond just underage drinking so that all illegal substances are covered.

At this time Shellsburg, Newhall, Van Horne and Blairstown have adopted Social Host for their communities. Efforts are currently being made to present Social Host to the remaining communities in Benton County. To support Social Host contact your local city council members encouraging them to put this in place for your community. For more information on Social Host or Above the Influence visit our website at www.bcati.com.