Teen Drinking Liability: What Every Parent Should Know

Despite extensive research documenting the health and behavioral consequences of underage drinking, some parents believe that allowing minors to drink under their supervision may encourage more responsible drinking habits later in life. Others believe that permitting drinking inside the home is a safer alternative to teens drinking elsewhere.

Regardless of your personal approach, it’s important to understand this: when teens drink at home, you may be exposed to substantial civil liability — even if it happens while you’re away or without your knowledge or consent.

What Is Social Host Liability?

Many states have enacted social host liability laws, which hold adults civilly responsible for injuries or damages caused by underage drinkers on their property. Many states also impose criminal penalties on adults who host or knowingly allow parties involving underage drinking in their homes or on property under their control.

Because these laws vary significantly by state, the specific circumstances under which you may be held liable will depend on where you live.

Liability exposure can include:

• Medical bills
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering

Teen Drinking Liability Under Florida Law

Parents and homeowners in Fort Myers and throughout Florida face specific legal exposure when it comes to underage drinking on their property. Florida law addresses this issue through several statutes:

• Florida’s “Open House Party” Statute (§856.015) makes it a misdemeanor for a host to knowingly allow minors to possess or drink alcohol at a social gathering on their property while failing to take reasonable steps to prevent it.
• Florida’s Dram Shop Law (§768.125) can extend liability to those who furnish alcohol to someone underage when that consumption leads to injury or property damage.
• Florida Statute §562.11 allows parents to be held civilly liable for damages caused by their child’s alcohol-related actions if they knowingly provided alcohol or failed to prevent access to it within their home.
• Florida Statute §322.057 can result in the suspension of a social host’s driver’s license for providing alcohol to a minor.

Under these laws, parents, homeowners, and anyone else who controls the property where underage drinking occurs may be held responsible — even if they didn’t personally provide the alcohol, and even if the drinking occurred without their direct knowledge.