Underage Drinking
Alcohol harms the developing brain and affects learning.
Binge drinking decreases adolescents’ memory and intellectual abilities.
Youth who drink alcohol are more likely to experience:
- School problems, such as higher absence and poor or failing grades
- Social problems, such as fighting and lack of participation in youth activities
- Alcohol-related car crashes and other unintentional injuries, such as burns, falls, and drowning.
- Death from alcohol poisoning
How We Can Prevent Underage Drinking And Related Harms
- Talk frequently with your kids about alcohol. Be clear and follow through.
- Don’t be a party to underage drinking.
- Support enforcement of Social Host laws.
Oklahoma Social Host Laws
Who is a Social Host?
Oklahoma’s Social Host law puts a shared responsibility for underage drinking on the person providing the location for the gathering. Adults or minors can be cited and fined under the Social Host law.
- Property Owners are Accountable – If people under 21 are gathered and drinking on private property, the person who provides the location is considered the Social Host, and will be held accountable.
- Accountability Goes Beyond the Party – A “Social Host” can be a minor or adult and does not have to be physically present or the actual property owner.
- Fines are Immediate – Social Host violations carry a first-time fine of up to $500.
- Adults and Minors are Accountable – If someone is injured or killed because of a Social Host violation, you can be charged with a felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine up to $2,500.
Repeat Offenders Can go to Prison – Fines increase with additional violations – three strikes gets you a felony conviction with up to 5 years in prison and a fine up to $2,500.