CA Supreme Court rules host who charges admission to party is a liability

The Social Host Ordinance is being reviewed and supported in many different ways. This week the California Supreme Court ruled that charging admission to a house party with alcohol is similar to a nightclub experience, making the host responsible for serving drinks to intoxicated minors.

"We should err on the side of permitting liability, for the possibility of liability may provide a strong deterrent against the provision of alcohol to minors, especially those who are already obviously intoxicated," Justice Kathryn Mickle Werdegar wrote for the court.

"Party hosts who ask guests to pay a cover charge to defray costs may be held legally responsible if an underage drinker becomes intoxicated and hurts himself or others, the California Supreme Court decided Monday. In a unanimous ruling, the high court said a cover charge amounts to a sale of alcohol, and state law creates liability for those who sell alcohol to obviously intoxicated minors."

For the full story: http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-alcohol-legal-20140225,0,2452252.story#ixzz2ufJ54vlt

Source:  http://novato.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/supreme-court-rules-underage-host-charging-admissio...

Learn more about the Social Host Ordinance

English - http://www.scribd.com/doc/180037937/FINAL-ACT-palm-card-pdf

Spanish - http://www.scribd.com/doc/189075792/ACT-Palm-Card-en-Espanol-in-Spanish

Let your voice be heard: What are your thoughts on this California court ruling? Please start the conversation and answer this question in the comment stream below! 

The San Rafael Alcohol Compliance Team (ACT) has been created through a partnership with the San Rafael Police Department and the Marin County Department of Health & Human Services to reduce underage and excessive drinking in youth ages 12 – 25.

For more information please visit & LIKE San Rafael ACT today
https://www.facebook.com/SanRafaelACT. 

Stay tuned for more information on ACT and how you can get involved!