It is the time of year once again when high schoolers go to prom and graduate. If you have a teenager in your family, he or she may have been planning a festive party for months. Before hosting a party at your home, though, you should know about the liability Connecticut law imposes on social hosts.
As you know, it is not uncommon for teenagers to want to drink alcohol at parties. If you provide the alcohol or the place for its consumption, you may be legally responsible for any damages a drunk teenage driver causes.
Providing alcohol to minors
In the Constitution State, it is a misdemeanor offense to knowingly or recklessly provide alcohol to those under the age of 21. According to Yale University, if you purchase booze for your underage teen and his or her friends or allow them to drink at your home, prosecutors may file criminal charges against you. They also may charge you for not securing your liquor cabinet.
Facilitating drunk driving
It is against state law for anyone with a blood alcohol concentration over 0.08% to drive a vehicle. If someone consumes enough alcohol at your home to cross this limit, you may be liable for any injuries and property damage he or she causes. These may include any of the following:
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- Damaged property
- Lost consortium
- Pain and suffering
Depending on the severity of the accident a drunk teen driver causes, you may have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars or more. Ultimately, by not permitting teens to drink in your home, you can insulate yourself from liability under Connecticut’s social host law.
