(Deming) – Law enforcement officers in Luna County have a new tool to help fight underage drinking in the community.
The Luna County commissioners unanimously passed a Social Host Ordinance that will allow law enforcement to cite the responsible person of a gathering where underage drinking occurs.
Under the new ordinance, which takes effect this Saturday, January 9th, the person responsible for an underage drinking party or unruly gathering may be fined by law enforcement, and repeated offenses can lead to law enforcement fining the responsible person for response costs.
Supporters say the new ordinance will provide law enforcement officers with more flexibility to fight underage drinking because under criminal laws, it can be difficult to prove who furnished the alcohol consumed by minors.
Data collected by the New Mexico Department of Health from local students shows that in 2013, 30 percent of high school students reported they had participated in binge drinking, and over three-quarters of the students reported drinking at their own home or another person’s home.
The Luna County commissioners unanimously passed a Social Host Ordinance that will allow law enforcement to cite the responsible person of a gathering where underage drinking occurs.
Under the new ordinance, which takes effect this Saturday, January 9th, the person responsible for an underage drinking party or unruly gathering may be fined by law enforcement, and repeated offenses can lead to law enforcement fining the responsible person for response costs.
Supporters say the new ordinance will provide law enforcement officers with more flexibility to fight underage drinking because under criminal laws, it can be difficult to prove who furnished the alcohol consumed by minors.
Data collected by the New Mexico Department of Health from local students shows that in 2013, 30 percent of high school students reported they had participated in binge drinking, and over three-quarters of the students reported drinking at their own home or another person’s home.
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