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Underage Drinking: What every Hartford parent should know
Parents are Liable for the Actions of their Child
Parents have the duty to control and supervise their children, up to the age 18. If they fail in that duty and if their child’s behavior results in injuries to someone else, the parents can be sued. In Vermont, this can include letting your child drive your car knowing or having reason to believe that they have been or will be drinking.
Hosting Parties:
If your children host a party where drinking takes place, parents may be held responsible:
- If someone dies from drinking too much
- Gets into a fight and hurts someone (or themselves)
- Falls and hurts themselves or someone else
- Sexually assaults or molests someone
- Damages property
- Injures or kills someone while driving after they leave a party
Something to Think About:
As graduation approaches at your high school, has your daughter or son suggested a party? Perhaps the gathering would be at your home or camp and would provide or permit alcoholic beverages for those teens wishing to drink. The kids will leave their keys with you or another adult – no one is supposed to drive after drinking. Seems like you should agree to the party? Think again! Even if you are on your own property or in your own home you can be imprisoned 2 years, or fined $2,000 or both if you sell or furnish any beer, wine or liquor to a person under 21 years or age. Likewise, if you provide a place for minors to consume alcohol, you are subject to the same penalties as direct furnishing. To make matters worse, if any party-goer under 16 who has consumed alcohol at the party breaks State law you may be convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, if the State can prove that you condoned or encouraged the misconduct. The minor faces a $600.00 fine or 30-day term or both for possessing the alcoholic beverage – you face up to one-year imprisonment, or a $100 fine or both for contributing. If the party gets out of control and someone drinks too much and dies, under a recent Vermont Supreme Court decision you may be prosecuted for involuntary manslaughter.
Source: Keeping Our Kids Drug-Free – A Family Handout
Windsor County
Stop Teen Alcohol Risk Team (START)
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