Check ID’s at the door.
That’s the policy San Diegans are expected to follow after the city strengthened the social host ordinance, or “house party” law.
The revised law has been in effect since earlier this summer and it specifically details the responsibilities of the host if there are minors at a residence where alcohol is being consumed. This version of the law replaces the original, which was struck down by a Superior Court appeals panel that determined the ordinance was too broadly worded.
The updated version establishes the four duties for party hosts: verify the age of guests, control access to alcohol, control the quantity of alcohol at the gathering and supervise minors.
The law makes it a misdemeanor to host a party where alcohol is being served to minors. Those who choose to ignore the ordinance face fines and criminal or civil prosecution.
The ordinance is the latest effort to curb underage drinking in San Diego.
“Underage drinking is a problem within our communities and we want to have laws like this that can help our young people and stop the problem of underage drinking,” said Paul Krupski, community policy liaison for North City Prevention Coalition.
According to a survey by Institute for Public Strategies conducted in San Diego County, 53 percent of respondents think the issue of adults providing alcohol to minors under the age of 21 is a serious problem. Also, 91 percent of those surveyed agree that it is wrong for an adult to provide alcohol to a minor.
“The bottom line is that alcohol is a controlled substance for a reason and it’s not up to someone else to make the decision for someone else’s child. Adults need to be held accountable for what children do.” Stevens said.
While much of the efforts have been focused on reducing minors’ access to alcohol, this ordinance gives local law enforcement another tool to help reduce access to alcohol at parties and social gatherings that have spiraled out of control and disturb the surrounding neighborhood.
In the past, local law enforcement officials have been struggling to battle the problem of underage drinking. Working with community leaders and collegiate administrators, the Community-Collegiate Alcohol Prevention Partnership, or C-CAPP, implemented a multi-faceted set of programs and guidelines aimed at reducing underage binge drinking.
C-CAPP addressed the problem from retail and sales by implementing bartending and sales policy changes and from the law enforcement side by enforcing stricter penalties for out of control parties, partnered with the passing of laws like the social host ordinance.
The programs have been concentrated in the Pacific Beach and College Area near San Diego State University, due to the high number of complaints regarding house parties, according to Regan Savalla, head deputy for Neighborhood Prosecution Unit. When the police arrive at those calls, more often than not it’s a party containing underage drinkers, Savalla said.
“There are times we have undercover investigators go in from Alcohol and Beverage Control and they are not stopped, not questioned at all. They’re given a cup and pointed to the keg.” Savalla said.
This highlights part of the problem hosts face when assuming responsibility for those consuming alcohol on their property. One reason an appellate court found the law unconstitutional was because the host doesn’t always know that the person consuming alcohol is indeed underage, according to Savalla. The updated social host ordinance places part of the responsibility on the shoulders of the host outlining their specific duties.
“If they are being responsible then they won’t have to face the consequences.” Savalla said.