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Health & Fitness

San Rafael parents receive Social Host citation for out of control teen party

On Sunday March 16th, according to the San Rafael Police Department, a 15-yeal-old’s birthday party on Coast Oak Drive in San Rafael’s Terra Linda area turned out of control because teens had easy access to alcohol and marijuana. According to the host, this 150 person party had an original invite list of only 25 guests. With the ease of text messaging and social media, guests were able to invite other friends without the hosts’ knowledge. The parents of the host were upstairs the entire time, and did not realize how many young people were in their home until neighbors called the police to investigate the loud and unruly party.

The party had become so unruly that the 15 year-old host said they hoped someone would call the police, but did not call themselves.  Neither did the parents.

The parents were cited under San Rafael’s Social Host Ordinance for hosting a gathering where underage youth were consuming alcohol and marijuana. San Rafael’s Social Host Ordinance (SHO) holds adults responsible for underage alcohol use in their households whether the adults are present or not. This ordinance is similar to other SHO’s in the county, including the Marin County model ordinance.

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In order to protect the health and safety of our youth, SRPD’s San Rafael Alcohol Compliance Team (SR ACT) is actively enforcing the Social Host Ordinance. Here are some helpful tips to avoid a citation if you are hosting a party for a teen:

Plan in Advance. Go over party plans with your teen. Encourage your teen to plan non-alcohol-related group activities or games.

Keep parties small. Ten to 15 teens for each adult. Make sure at least one adult is present at all times. Ask other parents to come over to help you if you need it.

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Set a guest list. The party should be for invited guests only. No "crashers" allowed. This will help avoid the "open party" situation.

Set starting and ending times for the party. Check local curfew laws to determine an ending time.

Set party expectations with your teens. Examples include:

·  No tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs.

·  No one can leave the party and then return.

·  Lights are left on at all times.

·  Certain rooms of the house are off-limits.

Have plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages available. Also, put your alcohol and any prescription or over-the-counter medicines in a locked cabinet.

Source: A Parent's Guide to Teen Parties (Copyright © 2010 American Academy of Pediatrics)

Source of image: Photo is not from actual party, but found via Google Image search

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

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!

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