Snoqualmie passes new underage drinking law

Published 3:02 pm Thursday, October 29, 2015

A new law is in place that should cut down on future underage drinking parties hosted by parents. The Snoqualmie City Council has passed a law to prevent underage gatherings in which adults have provided alcohol to minors.

The people responsible for hosting the gathering are subject to a civil infraction and a fine of $250 for each violation. A press release from the city of Snoqualmie defined a violator as the person who organizes, supervises, sponsors, or controls access to the underage gathering.

The Snoqualmie Police have seen occurrences of these gatherings more frequently in the past five years. They respond to about four of them a year.

“This law gives our police officers the necessary tools to effectively respond to unlawful juvenile parties and also serves as a prevention tool,” Snoqualmie Police Chief Steve McCulley said in a news release. “For parents, this law should serve as a way to educate peers and juveniles on the dangers, as well as the liabilities, related to underage drinking parties.”

In a discussion with the Valley Record about this law in August, McCulley said these parties stem from the thought that kids are going to do it anyway so why not let them drink in a controlled environment. Parents who host these parties could face liability if someone is hurt as a result of a party.

“You are making decisions for other parents whose kids haven’t told them what they’re doing. So it’s just a huge liability.” McCulley said.

Snoqualmie officials hope this law will deter people from hosting gatherings like these.

For additional information call the Snoqualmie police department at (425) 888-3333.