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Be responsible… Don’t allow underage drinking in your home. It is the RIGHT thing to do and it is the LAW Everyone knows that it is illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under the age of 21. However, while previous Connecticut law makes it illegal for minors to possess alcohol in public places it did not prohibit minors from possessing alcohol on private property. Until now, this gap in State law has allowed adults to host parties and serve alcohol to minors as long as it was on private property. Although some towns in Connecticut have passed local ordinances in an effort to fill the gap, teens and parents have gotten around them by having parties in neighboring towns without ordinances. On October 1, 2006 this changed. This is when House Bill 5211: An Act Concerning Underage Drinking became law. The law, sometimes referred to as a “social host ordinance”, makes it illegal for adults anywhere in Connecticut to allow alcohol to be served to minors on public or private property. Some Facts about Underage Drinking ü According to the CASA 2006 Study conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, “…one-third of teens and nearly half of 17-year olds attend house parties where parents are present and teens are drinking, smoking marijuana or using cocaine, Ecstasy or prescription drugs….” (http://www.casacolumbia.org/absolutenm/templates/PressReleases.aspx?articleid=451&zoneid=56) ü According to the NSDUH 2003-2004, 22.8% of persons aged 12-20 in Connecticut reported binge drinking (consuming 5 or more alcoholic beverages at a single sitting) in the past month. (http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k4State/AppB.htm#TabB.12) ü According to the 2005 Connecticut School Health Survey, 45% of 9-12 graders reported having consumed alcohol in the past 30 days and 29.7% said they had ridden in a car with a driver who had been drinking alcohol during the past 30 days. (http://www.dph.state.ct.us/PB/HISR/CSHS2005_FACT_SHEET.pdf) What this law does ü Reduces the availability of alcohol to youth ü Helps adults set good examples to youth who should not yet be drinking ü Makes the rules the same for everyone, everywhere in Connecticut ü Provides a clear message that underage drinking is never good, no matter where it happens ü Ensures consequences for anyone who chooses to ignore it. The possible consequences include fine and imprisonment. Why reduce underage drinking? ü According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, people who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who wait until age 21. ü There is evidence that alcohol use among youth can actually have a negative effect on brain development. ü Alcohol use impairs judgment and decision making which may lead to risk taking behavior, unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted disease. ü Data suggest that alcohol use can play a role in a number of the leading causes of death among youth including unintentional injury (motor vehicle fatalities, drownings), homicide and suicide. ü Alcohol contributes to violent crimes such as assault and burglary. To learn more about the law visit www.housepartybill.org
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