Sebastopol, California passed a “social host” law this week, the Press Democrat reports, which could expose parents who allow drinking – or should reasonably have known drinking is happening on the premises – to criminal prosecution.
“This legislation would endanger the lives of my friends. Right now teenagers are drinking in bedrooms and garages, in back yards and guest houses. If there were a solution, that would be great. That solution, however, isn’t to kick the intoxicated teens out of their houses,” said Gordon Allen, an Analy High School junior.“Pass this legislation and you cling to a naive misunderstanding of the Sebastopol teenager telling yourselves that if we don’t give them a haven, they won’t drink,” Allen said.