The Greene County Board of Supervisors recently approved and adopted a new ordinance regarding parties where alcohol and controlled substances are prevalent.
The social host ordinance does not allow for alcohol, controlled substances or prescription drugs to be consumed by anyone under the age of 21, including parties. The ordinance also stipulates certain exceptions, but the host of a party can now be penalized for allowing individuals under the age of 21 to consume or be in possession of alcohol, controlled substances or prescription drugs.
Greene County Sheriff Jack Williams says this will primarily be on a complaint-driven basis.
“As far as graduation parties and stuff like that, we’re not going out looking to bust people if their kid’s having a beer with them at their house after they’ve graduated. But if you do have other kids there drinking (alcohol) and we find out, yes, we’re probably going to show up. And then if the parents or host is present it’s $750 per underage kid that’s drinking.”
The ordinance goes on to penalize the host an additional $1,000 for each subsequent violation. Williams says the goal of the new ordinance is overall public safety.
“We’ve just had a lot of parties recently, underage beer parties, and I would like to try and get it slowed up or stopped before we lose a kid to an accident or an alcohol-related accident.”
Williams adds, law enforcement can still charge individuals under the age of 21 with minor in possession of alcohol. The Supervisors approved the second reading of the ordinance at their regular meeting this week and waived the third required reading for final adoption. The ordinance will go into effect later this week. Click the link below to see the new ordinance.