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Officials in the Village of Cazenovia say the proposed social host law is not meant to penalize those who might serve a glass of wine to someone under 21 at dinner or even at a religious event. Instead, it is aimed at major parties with where someone is buying and serving alcohol to underage drinkers.
It was clear a majority of those at a public hearing Monday night were against a Social Host Law, almost as much as they oppose underage drinking. Neighbor Jonathan Holsetin says, "Basically, I'm against anything that turns any people, especially teenagers into informers or are forced by the power of the law to inform on other children."
The proposed law partially stems from a 2008 fire on DeRuyter lake that killed a Cazenovia teen. Fines would range anywhere from $250 - $500 for first time offenders. While there are already state laws to punish those who serve alcohol to minors, Steve Goodfriend with Stop D.W.I. says they're too vague. "State law would require that you really have much tighter connection between the fact that the individual who is underage is actually drinking alcohol that was supplied by the homeowner or whoever running the place," says Goodfriend.
Village officials say they hope this is a law that would spread to other small communities and perhaps become a county-wide law, eventually going going on to the state. It will be up for public hearing again at their next meeting in February.
