GOSHEN – No one spoke at a public hearing Thursday night on the Social Host law that was adopted by the Orange County Legislature.
The measure will hold adults responsible for serving alcoholic beverages to minors on their property.
County Executive Steven Neuhaus said he will sign the bill soon.
“It gets the word out that this is unacceptable and parents for their kids and what is happening on their properties; any adult, they don’t have to be a parent,” Neuhaus said. “They could be someone else inviting somebody there knowingly.”
“It doesn’t seem like a lot,” but, Neuhaus said if someone was injured at a party in which liquor was served and the offender is sued civilly, “the attorney will use ‘even the government fined him on it. He is guilty’.”
The law will also fine an offer $500 and requires the offender to take a class.
District Attorney David Hoovler raised the social host issue over a year ago. It was brought to the forefront when Wallkill resident Justin Speights was murdered at a New Year’s Eve party in which alcoholic beverages were served, reportedly to underage people.
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