Drinking law puts parents on notice

By Elise Franco

The city’s amended host law makes adults more culpable for minors who drink on their premises.

CANFIELD — Police hope a revision to a city law will force parents to take more responsibility for what goes on in their homes.

On Dec. 2, city council adopted an amendment to the city’s social-host law, which determines the liability of property owners when underage individuals are caught drinking on their premises, said Canfield Police Chief Chuck Colucci.

Colucci said the law’s language used to state the adult was culpable if he or she “knowingly” allowed underage drinking — something he said was very difficult for law enforcement to prove.

“Too many hosts were getting caught and claiming they were unaware of the drinking,” Colucci said.

The law’s language was changed from “knowingly” to “negligently,” which Colucci said will place more responsibility on hosts. He said adults can no longer say they didn’t know.

“The burden is now that they should have known,” he said. “This is attempt to educate and remind adults that the convenient excuse, ‘I didn’t know,’ can’t be used.”

Canfield Mayor William Kay said he and the rest of council backed the proposal.

Kay said it’s possible some parents allow drinking in their homes because they feel the kids will be safer if they’re under their own roof.

“If you have a lot of people who think it’s perfectly alright to give minors alcohol, even if they let them sleep over, it’s the wrong thing to do,” he said. “It introduces them to a habit that’s not good for them. You’ll never convince me that it’s a good thing to give a 14-year-old [alcohol].”

Colucci said though this type of issue is not a major problem in Canfield, it does happen.

“We’ve seen an increase in adult providers,” he said. “It’s also always been that excuse they didn’t know the kids were drinking. ... That’s not going to get them out of the problem anymore.”

Assistant City Manager Chuck Tieche said the law went into effect Saturday.

“It was my understanding that what we did is similar to what’s being proposed statewide,” Tieche said. “The idea is to give the police departments a little more teeth in the regulation.”

Colucci said Canfield is the first city or township he knows of in the area that’s adopted the proposal. He said Ohio has continued to push for the same adoption for several years now.

The law applies to homes, as well as bars, hotels, motels and vehicles, he said.

“There’s a push right now for a House bill and a change within the Ohio Revised Code,” Colucci said. “Statewide, there’s been an alarming increase in alcohol-related injuries and deaths as a result of underage drinking.”

Colucci said the intent of the revision is not to send more adults to jail. The fine for providing alcohol to underage people is $250 to $500.

“I’d rather educate the adults so they might second-guess providing alcohol to underage [individuals],” he said.

efranco@vindy.com