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New Underage Drinking Law Cracks Down on Parents
Provisions of an Illinois law expands on parents' responsibilities to prevent underage drinking on their property.
A law taking effect Jan. 1 targeting underage drinking will crack down on parents who allow minors to drink anywhere on their property. That's of some interest to Geneva, which has had its share of discussion on the topic. Early in 2012, the city upped its fine for the offense, following weeks of City Council discussion, and there was significant attention to a case in which a parent in Geneva was charged with allowing an underage drinking party at his home. Prosecutors ultimately dropped the case against Robert Caruso this year, ending months of court appearances. The new law expands on one that specifies it is illegal for adults to let minors drink at their home. The expanded law makes it a misdemeanor carrying a $500 fine for any adult …
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Rick Bouchard
8:30 am on Sunday, December 23, 2012
My question, then, would be -- what if some trouble-maker minors are caught drinking in, say, the front yard of a property, just off the public sidewalk, and owner of that property (no relation to the minors, perhaps not even home) does not realize this is occurring? Is the property owner liable under this new law in that case? If so, that is profoundly ridiculous. Overall, the zeal in preventing… more ›