A. Definitions:
ALCOHOL: Means and includes hydrated oxide of ethyl, ethyl alcohol, ethanol or spirits of wine, from whatever source or by whatever process produced. It does not include wood alcohol or alcohol which has been denatured or produced as denatured in accordance with Acts of Congress and regulations promulgated thereunder.
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE: Means alcohol, spirits, beer, and wine as those terms are defined in title 3, chapter 1 of this Code and also includes every liquid or solid, patented or not, containing alcohol, spirits, wine or beer and capable of being consumed as a beverage by human beings.
GATHERING: Means a party, gathering or event, where a group of three (3) or more persons have assembled or are assembling for a social occasion or social activity.
LEGAL GUARDIAN: Means: 1) a person who, by court order, is the guardian of the person of a minor; or 2) a public or private agency with whom a minor has been placed by the court.
MINOR: Means any person under twenty one (21) years of age.
PARENT: Means a person who is a natural parent, adoptive parent, foster parent or stepparent of another person.
PREMISES: Means any residence or other private property, place or premises, including any commercial or business premises.
RESPONSE COSTS: Means the costs associated with responses by law enforcement, fire and other emergency response providers to a gathering, including, but not limited to:
1. Salaries and benefits of law enforcement, code enforcement, fire or other emergency response personnel for the amount of time spent responding to, remaining at, or otherwise dealing with a gathering, and the administrative costs attributable to such response;
2. The cost of any medical treatment for any law enforcement, code enforcement, fire or other emergency response personnel injured responding to, remaining at, or leaving the scene of a gathering;
3. The cost of repairing any City equipment or property damaged, and the cost of the use of any such equipment, in responding to, remaining at, or leaving the scene of a gathering; and
4. Any other allowable costs related to the enforcement of this section.
B. Prohibited Consumption By Minor; Exception: Except as permitted by State law, it is unlawful for any minor to:
1. Consume at any public place or any place open to the public any alcoholic beverage; or
2. Consume at any place not open to the public any alcoholic beverage, unless in connection with the consumption of the alcoholic beverage that minor is being supervised by his or her parent or legal guardian.
C. Hosting, Permitting Or Allowing Event Where Minors Consuming Alcoholic Beverages:
1. Prohibited:
a. It is the duty of any person having control of any premises, who knowingly hosts, permits or allows a gathering at said premises, to take all reasonable steps to prevent the consumption of alcoholic beverages by any minor at the gathering. Reasonable steps are controlling access to alcoholic beverages at the gathering; controlling the quantity of alcoholic beverages present at the gathering; verifying the age of persons attending the gathering by inspecting driver's licenses or other government issued identification cards to ensure that minors do not consume alcoholic beverages while at the gathering; and supervising the activities of minors at the gathering.
b. It is unlawful for any person having control of any premises to knowingly host, permit or allow a gathering to take place at said premises where at least one minor consumes an alcoholic beverage, whenever the person having control of the premises either knows a minor has consumed an alcoholic beverage or reasonably should have known that a minor consumed an alcoholic beverage had that person taken all reasonable steps to prevent the consumption of an alcoholic beverage by a minor as set forth in subsection C1a of this section.
2. Exceptions:
a. This section shall not apply to conduct involving the use of alcoholic beverages that occurs exclusively between a minor and his or her parent or legal guardian.
b. Nothing in this section should be interpreted to prohibit any family activity held in the confines of the family home from providing the use of alcohol to immediate family members within the supervision of parents and guardians. However, if a minor leaves such a family gathering intoxicated and is found in public, then said providers of alcohol will be held responsible in the same manner as a nonfamily gathering.
c. Nothing in this section should be interpreted to prohibit any religious practice which includes the use of alcohol. However, if a minor leaves such a religious gathering intoxicated and is found to be in public, then said providers of alcohol will be held responsible in the same manner as a nonreligious gathering.
d. This section shall not apply to any premises licensed by the State to dispense alcoholic beverages.
e. This section shall not apply where prohibited or preempted by State or Federal law.
D. Reservation Of Legal Options: Violations of this section may be prosecuted by the City criminally, civilly and/or administratively as provided by this Code. The City may seek administrative fees and response costs associated with enforcement of this section through all remedies or procedures provided by statute, ordinance or law. This section shall not limit the authority of peace officers or private citizens to make arrests for any criminal offense arising out of conduct regulated by this section, nor shall they limit the City ability to initiate and prosecute any criminal offense arising out of the same circumstances necessitating the application of this section.
E. Penalty:
1. Any person who shall violate the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of an offense against the City and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished for violation as provided in section 1-4-1 of this Code, plus all court costs and statutory penalties, as set forth in this Code.
2. Any juvenile who shall violate the provision of this section shall be deemed guilty of an offense against the City and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished for violation according to the Code of the City Juvenile Court. (Ord. 469, 9-11-2018)