House Bill 5211/Public Act 06-112
An Act Concerning Underage Drinking
Effective
October 1, 2006, the rules for underage drinking in Connecticut change. Previously,
anyone could hold an underage drinking party on their property and minors could
drink in private regardless of whether their parents were present.
Now, persons who permit underage drinking to occur in their homes can
be held accountable and minors are prohibited from possessing and drinking
alcohol anywhere unless accompanied by their parent or as part of a religious
observance. The new law (Public
Act 06-112) sends a consistent message to everyone that underage drinking
is unhealthy, unsafe and unacceptable everywhere and closes a glaring loophole
in the state's alcohol possession law.
Under PA-06-112, a first offense for permitting minors to possess alcohol on your property or failing to halt the possession of alcohol by minors on your property is an infraction subject to a $146 fine. The penalty for subsequent offenses result in a fine up to $500 and/or up to 1 year in prison.
Under the revised CGS Section 30-89b which addresses the possession of alcohol by minors anywhere, the first offense is also an infraction and has a $181 fine. Subsequent violations result in fines between $200 and $500. In addition, under another statute CGS Sec. 14-111e passed in 1997, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall suspend the motor vehicle operator's license or nonresident operating privilege of any person under the age of twenty-one who has been convicted of a violation of section 30-88a involving the misuse of an operator's license or section 30-89 involving the purchase and possession of alcoholic liquor by a minor for 5 months. » Review Connecticut's Liquor Laws.
» See our complete Fact Sheet (PDF) and set of Frequently Asked Questions (PDF).
News & Updates
May 25, 2007: Press Conference on House Party Law
Today,
Senators Jonathan Harris (D, 5th District) and John Kissel (R, 7th District)
joined the Connecticut Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking at a press conference
in the Legislative Office Building to discuss the House Party Law as the unofficial
first day of summer approaches. The message, this Memorial Weekend and this
summer is, don't turn underage partying into a memorial service tragedy. In
addition to comments by Senators Harris and Kissel, Catherine Levasseur, former
youth co-chair of the Connecticut Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking and
a Program Coordinator of the Governor's Prevention Partnership, Stephen Guest,
parent and CCSUD Leadership Council Member, and Representative Peter Vallano
spoke about the law aimed at protecting lives and preventing tragedies. A
video excerpt of some of Senator Harris's comments can be found
on the State Senator's website.
December 5 , 2006: Southington Mother Arrested for Providing Alcohol to Minors
According to reports in the local news, a Southington mother was charged with five counts of liquor sales to minors and three counts of risk of injury to children. Southington police said Charlene Milia, 42, rented two rooms at a Marriott hotel in September and bought alcohol (three 40-ounce bottles of Coors Light and a bottle of Bacardi watermelon rum) which three 17-year old boys and three 14-year old girls allegedly drank at a party. Court documents later revealed that the Southington woman accused of throwing a hotel party for teenagers was at the hotel the entire time and checked in on them at least twice. The woman was not charged with the lesser offense for knowingly permitting minors to possess alcohol but instead was charged with the felony offense of delivering alcohol to minors and faces up to 18 months in prison and/or fine up to $1,500 for each count.
November 20, 2006: Operation S.A.N.T.A. 2006 Features New Underage Drinking Law
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Taking part in the afternoon's activities were Leonard C. Boyle, commissioner, Connecticut Department of Public Safety; Col. Edward Lynch, Connecticut State Police; Kevin Kane, chief state's attorney; Craig Turner, vice chair, Connecticut Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking; and Dan Tearno, vice president, corporate relations, Heineken USA.
The campaign’s eye-catching graphics dramatically warn of the consequences of illegal behavior associated with underage alcohol consumption. Flashing lights from a state police cruiser are displayed on the artwork, along with the warning, “These aren’t holiday lights.” Operation SANTA messages will be delivered across the state beginning today through the New Year. Among the activations are:
- A presence on 240 movie screens across the state through ScreenVision Cinema Slides.
- In-mall signage at Stamford Town Center, Westfarms and Westfield Trumbull.
- A statewide public service announcement that will air on a number of radio stations including WEFX, WEZN, WRKI, WCCC, WKCI and WYBC.
- Posters and stickers displayed in restaurants, liquor stores and other venues where alcohol beverages are sold.
- Ongoing support on a website.
The press release, Public Service Message (MP3 Audio File) and further information about the campaign can be found on the campaign's website at ResponsibleMeans21.com (note: website furnished by Heineken USA).
October 24, 2006: Greenwich Forum and NBC 30 Reports N. Branford Underage Drinking Bust
At an underage drinking forum hosted in Greenwich, CT about the new law, the Coalition learned the Greenwich PD used the new law in at least one and perhaps two incidents, since it went into effect October 1st.
NBC 30 reported that North Branford Police used the new law on Saturday night, October 21, to break up a high school underage drinking party and issued 11 citations to 10 teens and one adult. Caroline Pethick, the owner of the property on 172 Notch Hill Road, N. Branford, was charged with an infraction of "failure to halt possession of alcohol by minors." Police confiscated three thirty packs of beer. » See Full Story.
October 8, 2006: First Arrests?
According to the West Hartford News (Police Blotter, 10/13/2006, pg 2), West Hartford PD arrested two 19 year old individuals on the charge of "permitting minor to possess alcohol" (i.e. the social host piece of the new law). Other details of the incident are currently unknown. This may be the first instance of law enforcement charging an adult under the new law. » See the scanned image of the police blotter from the newspaper. UPDATE 10/25/06: A police source reported that WHPD responded to a call about a college keg party located at 151 Hampton Street, in West Hartford's Elmwood Section, which is approximately 2 miles west of Trinity College (Hartford). Two infraction citations were made.
October 1, 2006: Law Effective Today
Today, the Underage Drinking House Party Legislation, HB 5211/Public Act 06-122, becomes effective.
August 26, 2006
Underage Drinking Conference Presentation in Baltimore, MD: Craig Turner, Linda Degutis, and Catherine Levasseur made a presentation at the 7th Annual National Leadership Conference on Underage Drinking held August 24-26, 2006 in Baltimore, MD. Their presentation discussed overcoming barriers to policy change and the Coalition's work on the passage of HB 5211 An Act Concerning Underage Drinking during the past legislative session. A copy of their PowerPoint slides is available in PDF format.
July 28, 2006: Governor Signs Bill In Ceremony
In a ceremony surrounded by applauding CCSUD members and elected officials,
Governor Rell signed the Underage Drinking House Party Bill into law. Those
at the ceremony included Rep. Michael Lawler (East Haven), Rep. Themis Klarides
(Derby, Orange,
Woodbridge),
Rep. Bob Farr (West Hartford and Farmington), Sen. Jonathan Harris (West
Hartford, Bloomfield, Burlington and Farmington), Craig Turner (vice chair),
Chris
DiStefano (Co-chair, Youth), Matthew Cook (Executive
Committee Member),
Steve Guest (Leadership Council Member), Janice Heggie-Margolis (MADD CT
representative), Johanna Darth (Executive Committee Member At Large), Bob
Petrucelli (Leadership Council,
East Haven Coalition member, CYSA representative), Joe Buonome (East Haven
Coalition member), Catherine Levasseur (CCSUD member and consultant), Kathryn
Oronato (Leadership Council youth member), DMHAS Deputy Commissioner Peter
Rockholtz, Brian Austin (Key Advisor; Chief State Attorney's Office) and
Governor's Prevention Partnership staff Ryan Obedzinski and Jill Spinetti.
Each person
in attendance was provided with a copy of the signed bill and had a group
photo taken with the Governor.
June 2, 2006: Governor Approves Bill
Today, Governor Rell returned HB 5211/Public Act No 06-112 to the Secretary of State with her signature making the Underage Drinking House Party Bill law effective October 1.
May 18, 2006
According to a contact in the Secretary of State's Office, HB 5211/Public Act No 06-112 was to be presented to the Governor's Office today.
May 17, 2006
Today, HB 5211 / Public Act No 06-112 (i.e. the "engrossed" bill) was signed by the House Clerk and transmitted to the Secretary of State for "forthwith" presentation to the Governor. Because the session has adjourned, the Secretary of State would have until May 27th (not more than 25 calendar days since the bill's passage in the General Assembly) to present it to Governor Rell for her consideration. Once Governor Rell receives it, she has 15 calendar days from receiving a copy of the engrossed bill to sign the bill, endorsing his or her approval thereon, and transmit it to the secretary of the state or to transmit it to the secretary without her signature. More details on the time frame and procedures after passage can be found here.
Several Members of the CCSUD Policy Action Team received honors from the Governor's Prevention Partnership Board of Directors today. In a ceremony at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in North Haven, the following members were presented with a plaque for their tireless efforts for the passage of An Act Concerning Underage Drinking: Linda Degutis (co-chair), Chris DiStefano (youth co-chair), Craig Turner (vice-chair), Catherine Levasseur (former youth co-chair), Matthew Cook (Executive Committee Member), Stephen Guest (Leadership Council Member), Nelson Forman (vice-chair), John Daviau (staff) and Jeff Daniels (policy consultant).
May 12, 2006
Today, House Bill No. 5211 became Public Act 06-112 through the "engrossement" process. As soon as a bill is engrossed and certified by a legislative commissioner, the commissioner shall present the bill to the house and senate clerks for their signatures before transmittal to the Secretary of State and eventual presentation to the Governor for her consideration.
May 2, 2006: Senate Unanimously Approves Bill
Tonight at 9:30 PM, the Connecticut State Senate unanimously passed HB 5211 AAC Underage Drinking, 35-0 after evoking the tragic deaths of Connecticut teenagers and praising the CCSUD for its work on the bill. The passage caps a five year campaign by the Connecticut Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking which has sought to close a loophole in Connecticut law that allows underage youth to possess and drink alcohol on private property. The bill also prohibits persons in control of property to host teen drinking house parties. The bill now awaits the Governor's signature who has said she would sign it. It would become law effective October 1.
May 1, 2006
We signed up 7 more cosponsors today, 3 Republicans and 4 democrats. The new bill cosponsors are: Sen. Fasano, Sen. Freedman, Sen. Gomes, Sen. Gaffey, Sen. Guglielmo, Sen. DeFronzo, and Sen. Murphy. We now have 19 Senate cosponsors and 45 House cosponsors. The bill was maked "Go" on the Senate calendar.
April 26, 2006
We spoke to a number of other Senators today and added two more bill cosponsors bringing the total number of cosponsors to 12 (one third of the Senate). Senators Roraback and McKinney, both Republicans, signed onto the bill as cosponsors.
April 25, 2006
As of today, HB 5211 is double starred and ready for action by the Senate. We were once again up at the Capitol and spoke with a number of State Senators about the bill. Over the next two days, the Senate is working to get its own bills out and will take up the bills from the Houseas early as Thursday. The Senate has scheduled sessions for every day this week. If you haven't called your State Senator in favor of the HB 5211 AAC Underage Drinking, please do so!
April 21, 2006
CCSUD was once again up at the capitol. Today was the first day HB 5211 appeared on the Senate Calendar. The bill will need to wait at least two more session days before the Senate will likely take action on it. We spoke with 11 Senators (6 Democrats and 5 Republicans). Two more Senate Democrats signed on as cosponsors (Senators Coleman and Daily). Seven other representatives also signed onto the bill. Currently, the bill has 55 Cosponsors (10 Senators and 45 Representatives representing nearly one third of the entire General Assembly). We also spoke with a number of House supporters and thanked them for their support. See the current list of supporters.
April 20, 2006
The CCSUD Policy Action Team continued to lobby at the Capitol today and spoke to a number of Senators about HB 5211. Another Senate Democrat cosponsor was added today bringing the total number of Senate Cosponsors to 8 (22% of the Senate and 33% of the Senate Democrat Caucus). The State Senate consists of 36 members (24 Democrats and 12 Republicans). The bill has 46 cosponsors in all and represents a 155.6% increase over last years total. Check out the current list of supporters.
April 18, 2006: Passes in House of Representatives
After over three hours of debate, the Connecticut House of Representatives overwhelming voted 123-23-5 in favor of House Bill 5211 AAC Underage Drinking today. The bill now has 45 Cosponsors with 12 Representatives signing onto the bill during the debate. HB 5211 now moves on to the Senate and awaits further action. Call your State Senators! The Roll Call Vote tally can be found here.
April 17, 2006
Three more House Democrat cosponsors were added today bringing the total to 33 bill cosponsors (83% increase over 2005 session). Currently, there are 16 House Democrats, 10 House Republicans, and 7 Senate Democrats. The new cosponsor additions were: Rep. Tom Reynolds, 42nd Dist., Rep. Kenneth P. Green, 1st Dist., and Rep. Elizabeth B. Ritter, 38th Dist. Find a list of all the bill's cosponsors in our List of Supporters.
April 13, 2006
Progress has been made. A mailing went out to all 187 legislators. We've added six new cosponsors over the last two days bringing our total to 30. That's a 66.7% increase over last year and the session isn't over yet. Keep contacting your legislators in support of the bill. Encourage supporters to sign on as cosponsors and to talk to leadership to bring the bill to the floor for a vote.
April 11, 2006: General Law Favorable Report
The General Law Committee reported HB 5211 favorably out of committee 14-1 today with two members absent and not voting. The bill is now back on the House calendar awaiting further action. If you contacted a member of the committee in support of the bill, please follow up on the legislator's action by sending a thank you note if you were pleased with how they voted. Send a note of regret if they voted against your wishes. Be polite but let the legislator know that you are disappointed in the way s/he voted and why. Here is the General Law Committee's Vote Tally.
April 9, 2006
The General Law Committee is expected to vote on HB 5211 on Tuesday, April 11 at 11:00 AM. It is extremely important that members in the General Law Committee legislator districts immediately call their legislator in support of HB 5211. All members living in those districts have received a set of instructions via email on April 8, 2006.
April 7, 2006
HB 5211 was referred by the House to the General Law Committee on April 6, 2006. Please immediately phone and email the General Law Members from your town. A list of committee members and the towns they represent is included below. Follow up your call with an email to the legislator containing the Fact Sheet and Supports List.
Below are links to the files listed in the April 7, 2006 Update. Files include the Stop Underage Drinking Fact Sheet, HB 5211 Supporters List, General Law Membership List, and the Frequently Asked Questions Document.
- Stop Underage Drinking Parties in CT Fact Sheet (PDF)
- HB 5211 List of Supporters (PDF)
- HB 5211 Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
- General Law Committee Members (MS Word)
March 30, 2006: Press Conference
The news conference on HB 5211 AAC Underage Drinking held Thursday, March 30 at the LOB received some excellent news coverage and a lively discussion of the bill aimed at closing the loophole in Connecticut law which allows teen underage drinking house parties to go unchecked ensued. Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, Cromwell Chief of Police Anthony Salvatore (CT Chiefs of Police Assn), West Hartford Chief of Police James Strillacci (CT Chiefs of Police Assn), Representative Brian O'Connor (D-Clinton, Killingworth & Westbrook), Craig Turner (Vice Chair of the CCSUD), Chris DiStefano (Youth Chair of the CCSUD), Lori Stanczyc (CT Youth Service Association), Peter Downes (CT Package Store Association), and parents Geralyn Laut and Steve Guest spoke in support of the bill and answered questions from the press. They called on law makers to take action to bring the bill to the floor and pass the life saving measure. Other supporting organizations on hand included the Chiefs States Attorney's office, Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services, Connecticut Prevention Network, Substance Abuse Action Council of Central Connecticut, and the Governor's Prevention Partnership. The bill is also supported by a several other organizations who were unable to attend including the CT Parent Teachers Association, MADD CT, and the Connecticut Public Health Association (CPHA).
Just prior to the press conference, five additional lawmakers signed on as HB 5211 cosponsors including Sen. Mary Ann Handley (D-Bolton, Glastonbury, Manchester & Marlborough), Rep. Mike Lawlor (D-East Haven), Rep. Doug McCrory (D-Hartford), Sen. Edith Prague (D - Eastern Connecticut towns), Sen. Joseph Crisco (D - Naugatuck Valley area towns), and Sen. Tom Colapietro (D. - Bristol area). We now have 23 cosponsors exceeding last year's end of session grand total by five legislators and a month to go in the session.
March 28, 2006
The Connecticut Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking will hold a press conference at 11:30 AM in the Legislative Office Building Room 1C on Thursday, March 30th with key legislative and community leaders on a bill to reduce underage drinking, Raised Bill 5211, now before the legislature.
Those anticipated to attend the event include major legislative supporters, representatives from the Chief States Attorney’s Office, Attorney General’s Office, and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, youth representatives of the Coalition, the Connecticut Chiefs of Police Association, Connecticut Package Store Association, Connecticut Youth Services Association, Connecticut Prevention Network, and the Connecticut Parent Teacher Association. The press conference is open to members of the public.
March 13, 2006: Judiciary Votes 38-0 In Favor
The Judiciary Committee approved HB 5211 by a unanimous vote, 38-0. The bill now goes to the Legislative Commissioner's Office, Office of Fiscal Analysis, and Office of Legislative Rearch. See the Judiciary Committee Favorable Report for exerpts of the Public Testimony. Contact the closest member of the Judiciary Committee and thank them for their support!
February 28, 2006
We are strongly encouraging all coalition members, advocates, and friends to call the closest Legislator to your area that is on the Judiciary Committee asking them to support HB 5211 AAC Underage Drinking and vote it out of Committee favorably so that it can continue on through the legislative process. We are also asking you to ask them very directly if they were to vote today for HB 5211, would they be for or against the bill. And equally important, please also let the Coalition know that you contacted a legislator or legislators and the what outcome was so that we can keep track of the General Assembly members opinions on the issue.
February 24, 2006: Public Hearing
The Public Hearing was held today and it was a huge success. We had nearly 20 concerned state agency heads, legislators, non-profit organizations, parents, students, and concerned citizens testifying in favor of HB 5211 AAC Underage Drinking.
Some of the individuals testifying in support of HB 5211 included Chief State Attorney Christopher Morano, Commissioner Thomas Kirk of the Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, James Papillo from the State Victim’s Advocate Office, Rep. Sonny Googins (Glastonbury), Rep. David Scribner (Brookfield), Sen. Andrea Stillman (southeastern CT), Kate Antonucci of the Connecticut Prevention Network, Inc and Middlesex County SAAC, Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, Craig Turner Vice Chair of the CCSUD, Geralyn Laut and Sheryl Sprague of the Glastonbury Alcohol and Drug (GLAD) Council, Chris DiStefano Youth Co-Chair of the CCSUD, Kathryn Onorato a high school student from Old Saybrook, Alana Flanagan a high school student from Hamden and volunteer with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Stephen Guest a CCSUD Leadership Council member and parent who lost his non-drinking daughter Kristine in an alcohol related accident, David Pease Board Member from Connecticut Communities for Drug Free Youth (CCDFY), Catherine LeVasseur and Maureen Ryder who are former CCSUD youth co-chairs, and Matthew Cook of the UConn Health Center. The CT Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (CCLU) again spoke in opposition to the bill. I applaud all those who took time out of their busy schedules to speak or write testimony in support of this important legislation aimed at reducing underage binge drinking among young people in our state. Your individual and group efforts do not go unnoticed.
February 18, 2006
HB 5211 An Act Concerning (AAC) Underage Drinking was referred to the Judiciary Committee yesterday. The Joint Committee on Judiciary has announced the time and location of the Public Hearing scheduled for Friday, February 24th where they intend to discuss Raised House Bill No. 5211 AAC Underage Drinking. The Hearing will be held beginning at 1:30 PM in the Legislative Office Building Room 2C. The first hour of the hearing is reserved for legislators, constitutional officers, state agency heads and municipal chief elected officials.
After the first hour, speaker order will be decided by a lottery system. Numbers may be drawn beginning at 9 a.m. in Room 2500 of the LOB and will be available up until 12 noon. Anyone wishing to testify after the drawing has concluded will be placed at the end of the list. Speakers will be limited to 3 minutes of testimony. Please submit 55 copies of written testimony at least 2 hours prior to the start of the hearing (i.e. no later than 11:30 AM) to Judiciary Committee Staff in LOB Room 2500.
It is our intention that CCSUD Leadership Council Members will be available the morning of the hearing to assist people with submitting written testimony and signing up to testify. Further details will be announced after a Policy Team Conference Call on the morning of Feb 21.
Raised HB 5211: AAC Underage Drinking is supported by the Connecticut Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking, Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, Connecticut Package Stores Association, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) - Connecticut Office, Connecticut Parent Teachers Association, Connecticut Youth Services Association, Connecticut Public Health Association (CPHA), Connecticut Prevention Network, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) - Connecticut Chapter, Governor's Prevention Partnership, the Connecticut Chief States Attorney's Office, the Attorney General's Office, the Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services, the Office of the Victim's Advocate, Middlesex County Substance Abuse Action Council, Substance Abuse Action Council of Central CT, East of the River Action for Substance Abuse Elimination (ERASE), West Hartford Town Council, West Hartford Substance Abuse Commission, individual lawmakers, parents, youth, and concerned citizens committed to reducing the problem of underage drinking in Connecticut.
