(A) Minors often obtain, possess, or consume alcoholic beverages and/or cannabis at gatherings held at private residences or other private property, places or premises, including rented commercial premises which are under the control of a person who knows or should know of the consumption of alcoholic beverages and/or cannabis by minors, yet persons responsible for the occurrence of such gatherings often fail to take reasonable steps to prevent the consumption of alcoholic beverages and/or cannabis by minors at these gatherings.
(B) Consumption of alcoholic beverages by minors who are under the legal age to consume alcohol in the state is harmful to the minors themselves and poses an immediate threat to the public health, safety, and welfare in that it increases alcohol abuse by minors, physical altercations, violent crimes including rape and other sexual offenses, accidental injury, neighborhood vandalism, and excessive noise disturbance, all of which may require intervention by local law enforcement.
(C) Consumption of cannabis by minors who are under the legal age to consume cannabis in the state is harmful to the minors themselves and poses an immediate threat to the public health, safety, and welfare in that it increases cannabis use by minors, it detrimentally affects the mental and physical health of minors, and it increases rates of driving under the influence, all of which may require intervention by local law enforcement.
(D) The prohibitions found in this chapter are reasonable and expected to deter the consumption of alcoholic beverages and/or cannabis by minors by holding responsible persons who know of, or should know of, the illegal conduct yet fail to stop or prevent it. In addition, the revenue received by the city after cost reimbursement, will be directed toward alcohol and cannabis abuse and prevention education programs in the community.
(Ord. 2007-006, passed 9-10-07; Am. Ord. 2019-008, passed 12-10-19)