There are many parents who let their underage
children, and friends, host parties, with alcohol present, and in Maryland
these “cool” parents now run the risk of being sued. Maryland’s
highest court ruled that parents are held liable if they know underage drinking
is happening in their house and an underage drinker gets hurt or hurts someone
else.
Usually the law mandates that only the individual
themselves whether they are drunk or sober, are to be held responsible for
their own conduct. But, an underage person consuming alcohol on an adult’s
property with the adult’s complicity,
is now being considered as an entirely different story.
This change was intended to be a deterrent from adults
giving alcohol to minors.
The term “complicit” is a key aspect of this
definition. This prohibits adults from “knowingly and willfully” letting
drinking occur. In addition, parents are liable if they know underage drinking
is happening in their house. Thus, parents whose children sneak into their home
with alcohol would likely not be held responsible in court.
“Underage persons are not solely responsible for
drinking alcohol on an adult’s property because they are not competent to
handle the effects of this potentially dangerous substance.” Judge Sally D.
Adkins wrote.
This is being hailed as a “groundbreaking” step, as activists
believe that this ruling will help dissuade adults from providing alcohol to
minors.
Many parents believe that they are keeping their
children safer by letting them drink at home where adults can watch over them,
but this is not always the case.
The Court of Appeals recognized what many have long
known, “individuals that are underage lack the judgement and competence to
decide whether to drink.” Parents who are home during the party can face a
civil lawsuit or even criminal charges. On top of this, the parent may be
ordered to pay the medical bills and other damages suffered by the teen and
anyone else who may be injured in an accident.
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