Massachusetts Parents beware! Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 138, Section 34: Delivery of Alcohol Beverages to Person Under 21 (as amended by Chapter 175 of the Acts of 2000) makes it unlawful for a person to furnish alcohol to a minor. Furnish is defined as providing alcohol to a minor except on one's own property to one's own grandchildren.
A person may be charged with violating the social host law if he or she allows a person who is under 21 to possess alcohol while on property owned or controlled by him. The statute was passed to address the issue of teenage alcohol parties being held with the full knowledge of parents.
The focus of the law is to curtail the irresponsible behavior of parents permitting minors to drink at their homes. In addition, the statute may also be used to charge minors who host alcohol parties. If a minor is left in charge of the home while his parents are away, then he or she is in control of the property. If he or she allows friends who are under 21 to bring alcohol to the home, he or she could be charged under this statute.
The penalty for violating this statute is a fine of $2,000.00 or imprisonment for one year.
The Massachusetts personal injury lawyers at Bellotti Law Group, P.C. handles personal injury law suits.
