Long Beach police break up underage drinking party

Long Beach police broke up an underage drinking party on Harding Avenue last Saturday after an officer responded to a noise complaint.

According to the Police Department, the officer observed alcoholic beverages being consumed in the living room. The host of the party, a 16-year-old male, was issued a summons for violating the city’s Social Host Law and allowing minors to consume alcoholic beverages on the property. He was scheduled to appear in Long Beach City Court on June 16. The teen’s parents were not at home during the party, police said.

“The Long Beach Police Department will not tolerate underage drinking in our community,” Police Commissioner Mike Tangney said in a statement.

The social host ordinance refers to any legal adult who is in charge of the premises. The penalty for violating the ordinance is up to $1,000 and possibly 15 days in jail, subject to judicial discretion. The law was passed to hold adults accountable for allowing underage drinking on their premises.

However, if the parents are not at the home, they are not issued a summons, unless they were aware that minors were consuming alcohol on their property or if there have been multiple calls to police reporting prior incidents of underage drinking at the home.

Minors who are issued a summons must pay a fine and may be required to attend an alcohol awareness program.

Long Beach was the first city to pass the social host law in 2006. To date, approximately 60 violations have been issued. The passage of the ordinance was a goal of the Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking, now called Long Beach AWARE

“We hope that this will put the conversation on the table between parents and their kids about not hosting an underage drinking party when parents aren’t home,” said Judi Vining, executive director of Long Beach AWARE.