Alliance for Healthy Communities presents social host ordinance to Manchester aldermen

Kristi Scoville of the Alliance for Healthy Communities urged the Manchester Board of Aldermen to adopt a social host ordinance to reduce minors' access to alcohol and marijuana, saying the measure would give law enforcement a legal basis to intervene and communicate that underage drinking is unacceptable.

"Underage drinking and substance use pose major health risks, leading to fatalities, poor academic performance, injuries, and violence," Scoville said, arguing that social host laws are an evidence-based environmental strategy that reduces youth access to substances provided at parties.

Scoville described how other communities combine ordinance language with public-education campaigns for parents and neighbors to raise awareness and to encourage reporting of suspected underage gatherings. She emphasized that the ordinance would place legal responsibility on hosts or the person who supplies the substance.

During board discussion, Alderman Toben asked whether a parent or property owner who was not at the scene and had no knowledge of a gathering would still be held accountable. Police Chief Ed Skaggs responded: "Police would go after whoever provided the substance if that can be determined and normally, they will not go after a parent or property owner if they’re not there and had no knowledge of the gathering." Mayor Clement suggested staff consult Chesterfield police for additional enforcement practices used there.

Alderwoman Huether and Scoville discussed pairing a new ordinance with community education so parents would understand reporting options and the ordinance's expectations. There was no public comment on the item and the board did not vote on the ordinance during the Jan. 20 meeting.

Next steps: The proposal was introduced to the Board for consideration; no motion or formal vote was recorded at this meeting.