Minors Drinking This Holiday Season

By Andrew Ehinger

    Karen Dittmer of West Hempstead (she liked to be called Mamma Dukes) never had any idea that a party at her house a couple years ago would end up with her being the first person cited under Nassau County's Social Host Law. Nassau police say they caught her hosting a party where her sons' friends were being served beer. In her defense she claimed innocence.

    "I swear on my dead father's grave I would never, ever do that . Do I look like that kind of mother?"

    But almost a year later she plead guilty to the charge and was fined $250.

    Miss Dittmer can blame the City of Long Beach for starting the Social Host Liability laws in Nassau County. It was back in 2006 when the city legislature passed the law, trying to stem the tide of underage drinking in peoples homes. So far officials believe the law is working. In a Long Beach grocery store parking lot, a random sampling of people found that everyone had heard of the 2 year old law and most felt it was a good thing. Some others felt that the law was too intrusive and that more emphasis on better parenting was the answer. (But that's a topic for another time). However, aside from The City of Long Beach, Nassau and Suffolk counties, 27 other municipalities and 9 counties in New York State have enacted similar social host laws. There is even a push to make the law statewide with legislation that is now working its way through the capital. 

So a quick reminder from lawmakers today:  As you celebrate the holidays here on Long Island, first off have fun, but don't serve alcohol to minors. If you do, lawmakers say, you could face a $250 fine for the first offense, $500 for the second, and $1,000 for the third and a year in jail.

Happy Holidays.