Ord #147 3rd Ser/Amending the City Code by Adding the Social Host Ordinance to Section 34-8

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ORDINANCE NO 147, THIRD SERIES AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF ORONO CODE ADDING SECTION 34-8 SOCIAL HOST ORDINANCE THE CITY COUNCIL OF ORONO ORDAINS: SECTION 34. Section 34-8 of the City of Orono Municipal Code Social Hast is hereby amended by adding the following language to Subsection 34-8 as follows: 34-8 Social Host Ordinance. 1. - It is unlawful for any person under the age of 21 to consume or possess alcohol. (a Consumption of alcohol by persons under the age of 21 is harmful to those persons and constitutes a potential threat to public health from injuries related to alcohol consumption, such as alcohol overdose or alcohol-related traffic collisions (b) Alcohol is also an addictive drug which, if used irresponsibly. could have drastic effects on those who use it as well as those who are affected by the actions of an irresponsible user. tc� As a result, gatherings held on private or Public property where alcohol is possessed or consumed by persons under the We of 21 should be prevented as much as possible. d Gatherings involving underage ppssession and consumption often occur outside the ence of parents or other responsible adults. _However, there are times when a parent or other adult is present and condones the activity, and in some circumstances provides the alcohol. Le) Although furnishing alcohol to an underage person is a crime it is difficult to pMve, and an ordinance is necessary to help further combat underage consumption. (fdeterrent effect will be created by holding a person criminally responsible for hosting aag thering where underage possession or consumption occurs. 2. The purpose of this section is to discourage underageRQssession and consumption of alcohol even if done within the confines of a private residenceand to hold persons criminally responsible who host gathering§ where persons under 21 years of age possess or consume alcohol, recess of whether the person hosting the gathering supplied the alcohol or was present. 3. The City Council intends that this ordinance should not target parents who may have alcoholic beverages on their premises but who have issued a standing order that alcohol is not to be consumed by underage Persons on those premises.