Is It Worth It To Host a Teen Party?

Being a social host and condoning the use of alcohol with minors is just not a good idea. Here is why: 

• In Maine, it is illegal to knowingly allow a person under 21, other than your own child, to remain in your home or on your property while consuming or possessing alcohol.
• Underage drinking is a serious public health problem. Giving teens alcohol increases their risk of addiction, injury, and death. It can interact unexpectedly with their medicine, harm their brain’s development, and can lead to drinking and driving or other injuries. 
• You can be ARRESTED for furnishing alcohol to a minor or allowing a minor other than your own child to drink in your home or camp.  Both crimes carry penalties of up to 1 year in jail and up to a $2,000 fine.
• If someone is injured or killed because of the alcohol you supplied, you could be charged with a FELONY.
• You can be SUED.  If you allow minors to consume alcohol in your home or camp, your homeowner’s insurance policy may not provide adequate protection when serious injury occurs.  You could be HELD RESPONSIBLE if injury occurs on or away from your premises (EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT HOME).  You can PREVENT TRAGEDIES by stopping teenage drinking.
• Are your ASSETS (home, car, toys, life, and retirement savings), your FREEDOM and your REPUTATION worth the RISK?

What Your Establishment Can Do to Keep Westbrook Healthy and Safe: Help Prevent Alcohol Misuse

To prevent alcohol violations and to provide “Best Practices” when it comes to your sellers, servers, and third-party delivery services, here are a few things we recommend you can do to prevent violations and criminal/civil suits:

• Work together as a team to prevent alcohol-related deaths, injuries, and damages.
• Attend a Maine State Certified Responsible Beverage (RBS) training for you and your staff offered by WPFP. 
• Create or update your “Best Practice” service policy and train your employees to reduce underage drinking, recognize Visibly Intoxicated People (VIPs), and to check for fake IDs. We can assist you with your Policy!
• Support the youth-driven “Sticker Shock” program to educate retail customers about the law and consequences of purchasing alcohol for minors.

Resources