My turn Pat Quinn Warwick Coalition seeks support for Social Hosting Law

On Aug. 1, the Warwick Coalition collaborated with District Attorney David Hoovler, Jim Conklin from the The Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) of Orange County, Warwick Supervisor Mike Sweeton, School Board member Bob Howe and Warwick Police Sergeant Morley to discuss a "Hosting" law in Orange County on WTBQ.

This law would make it illegal to serve minors socially, other than your children, on your property.

It is similar to recent laws passed in Westchester, Sullivan, Ulster and Duchess counties.

The Sullivan County law passed in 2012 also makes synthetic marijuana illegal, thereby closing two legal loopholes in one law.

The law also makes it possible to ticket youths who serve alcohol to minors.

DA Hoovler said he hoped to have this legislation drafted by October.

Legal consequences have not been set, but in Sullivan County the first offense can be a ticket as high as $500.

A second offense is a misdemeanor and incurs a higher fine and up to a year in jail.

ADAC is recommending that Orange County's Hosting law requires all offenders to also attend a victim impact panel to learn about the potential effects of serving minors.

These consequences are far ranging. By contradicting existing laws, adults send the antisocial message that it's okay to break the law.

Social hosting has been shown to contribute to the increase of alcohol dependency at younger and younger ages, and potential fatalities from binge drinking and motor vehicle accidents are common.

In 2012, a study by the federal The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration showed those who binge drank by age 15 were five times more likely to have substance abuse problems later because of interference with the development of reward centers in the brain.

In 2011, 42 percent of Warwick seniors were noted in the Pride Survey to have experienced binge drinking.

That same year, 68 percent of Warwick sophomores reported family antisocial attitudes toward gambling, drug and alcohol use and small crimes.

The Warwick Community Center and the Coalition have distributed lawn signs and post cards that read "Parents Who Host Loose the Most," referring to the price many adults already pay when harm arises after serving minors at house parties (businesses are already prohibited from serving those under 21).

Look for a Social Host banner to be hung in the Village Aug. 18-Sept. 1. These are some of the environmental changes that the Coalition has sponsored to make Warwick a safe, healthy environment for youth and families.

They will collaborate with Seely & Durland Insurance on Aug. 27 at the Warwick Valley High School Driver Safety Forum about the dangers of "hosting."

The next Coalition meeting is on Thursday, Aug. 28, at the Warwick Community Center at 6:30 p.m. Information and referrals are offered to parents at the end of the meeting at 7:30.

Call 845 986-6422 for more information.

Patricia Quinn is the Warwick Valley Community Center program director and a member of the Warwick Coalition.