Police: Long Beach woman violated Social Host Law

Long Beach police broke up a large underage drinking party on Tennessee and Oceanview Avenues on Oct. 27 and issued a 43-year-old resident a summons for violating the city’s Social Host Law.

Renata Lopes, the mother of the teenager hosting the party who was home at the time, is expected to appear at Long Beach City Court on Nov. 13.

Several officers responded to the scene at around 7:55 p.m. and observed open alcoholic drinks in the house. Some party attendees scattered when police arrived, Tangney said, and the teenagers who remained were released into the custody of their parents.

“Everybody was calling,” Commissioner Tangney said. “The group was out of control.”

After addressing the Social Host violation, police were called to a group of people fighting on Virginia Avenue who police believed attended the party.

“[The fight] was immediately broken up by police officers,” Tangney said.

The Social Host Law holds any legal adult in charge of the property accountable, police said, and the penalty for violating the ordinance is up to $1,000, 15 days in jail or both, subject to judicial discretion. Residents under 21 who are cited also may be required to attend a three-hour education series hosted by Long Beach AWARE, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing alcohol and substance abuse among young people.

“Community members can — and should — make that call to the police if they suspect an underage party is underway,” said Judi Vining, executive director of Long Beach AWARE. “We believe that shedding light on the strict enforcement as well as the need for community members to get involved is the only way that potential tragedies can be prevented.”

“The Long Beach Police Department will not tolerate underage drinking in our community and enforces the Social Host Ordinance when this violation occurs,” police said in a statement.