To put teeth behind the ordinance that makes it a misdemeanor offense to serve alcohol to minors and to host unruly parties, City Council unanimously set a schedule for fines Monday.
Adopted April 25, the social host ordinance will carry a fine of $1000 for serving alcohol to minors. Hosts of unruly parties will face a $500 for a first offense, $750 for a second offense and $1000 for a third offense. This is the first ordinance of its kind in San Mateo County.
Members of the Oceana High School based Teens Making a Change organization spoke before the council members Monday to describe their work to prevent adults from serving alcohol to minors. They debuted their public service announcement, which will also air on Pacifica Community Television, with the theme “don’t put alcohol in our hands.”
“The video really drove home a point,” said Council Member Jim Vreeland. “What was truly a tragedy has turned into this.”
He referred to the drunk driving related death six years ago of teens Stephanie Echevarri and Johnny Bier.
All the council members thanked the youth, police personnel and the Partnership for a Safe and Healthy Pacifica for their work researching and developing this social host ordinance.
“Any time youth is taking an active role, it’s worth praising,” said Mayor Mary Ann Nihart.
