Parents- Think Twice About Hosting a Graduation Bash
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Posted by
Eddie FarahMay 29, 2008 6:45 PMTags:
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As school wraps up in Florida, graduates and their parents are looking forward to the summer, sleeping in, barbeques, pool parties and beer- soaked rampages.
Parents might consider passing on the latter.
Graduation parties for high school students are fine, but most partygoers are under the age of 21 and that can mean anything but a fun time for parents.
Providing alcohol to underage drinkers is a second-degree misdemeanor. Parents face up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. Don’t think law enforcement isn’t eager to send the message to whomever thinks that summer should begin with a beer blast.
Neighbors are only too happy to turn you in.
Last year, 17 open-house parties landed pickled parents and partiers in the pokey. That number was up from the year before. And in Clay County there were 23 busts last year.
Parents are supposed to know better and to take reasonable steps to prevent alcohol from landing in the hands of minors on their property. And even if the party was arranged behind your back and word spread like wildfire on the internet, you are liable. And if that minor crashes after leaving a party at your house, the parent host is liable too.
Just ask the Jacksonville attorney who was recently handcuffed and led away from her son’s backyard keg party. She was charged with selling, giving or serving alcohol to minors and resisting arrest.
There are no breaks going to be cut here. #