FAQ’s

Frequently Asked Questions

There have been certain questions that have arisen as this project has evolved.  This page will continue to develop and grow as the work of The Coalition grows.  Our goal is to provide one place where parents and community members can go to find answers to these questions and to pose new ones.  If you have a quesion that is not listed on this page please email us at sonomasoberteens@gmail.com or feel free to add it to the comment section of this page.

Thank you for your support.

Social Host Ordinance (SHO)

Will the SHO apply to me if I serve my own child alcohol at a family meal or a religious service/ritual?

No.  The SHO only applies to adults who host parties where teens are gathered and who knowingly or deliberately serve alcohol (or allow alcohol to be served) to them.  While The Coalition does not recommend it, in the state of California you have the legal right to serve your own child alcohol in your home.  However, you do NOT have the right to serve other people’s children alcohol in your home.

If I did not authorize a teen party in my home and one was held without my knowledge will I be held responsible under the SHO?

If reasonable measures were taken to prevent an unauthorized party from occurring in your home, than no the SHO will not apply to you.  The language will clearly stipulate that you “knowingly”  or “should have known” that alcohol was being served to minors in your home.  Let us clarify by giving some specific examples:

• Your teen and some friends are drinking alcohol in your home and having a party or gathering.  The police are called by a neighbor.  You are asleep in another part of the house.

In this case it is assumed that you SHOULD know what is happening in your home while you are in it, in particular if it was loud enough that a neighbor was aware of the situation and became concerned.  The SHO would then be enforced.

• Your teen has a party while you are out of town and the police are called.  You find out after the fact.

If you took reasonable steps to ensure that this event would not occur such as:

Notifying a neighbor you are going to be out of town and your child is not to have any gatherings.

Providing adult supervision in your home while you are away.

Notify the police that you are away and that you have not authorized any teen gatherings in your home.

These are all reasonable measures to ensure that a party does not occur in your home without your consent or supervision. If one of these steps or another reasonable measure is taken than the SHO will not be applied to you in this case.  However, if you do not take any steps and your teen does have an unauthorized party than you may be subject to the SHO.

Does the SHO only apply to parents?

No.  The SHO would apply to anyone over the age of 21 who is hosting any gathering where alcohol is being served to minors. For example:

Your teen attends a party at an acquaintance’s home who is 21.  Alcohol is being served to your teen and his/her friends.  The police are called to the party and it is dispersed.  The adult who is 21 and has direct control of the property (either as a renter or owner) would be held responsible under the SHO.

Parent & Community Pledge

If I signed a Parent Pledge through safeparty.info or any other organization outside of The Coalition do I still need to sign one with your group?

No you do not.  We are working in collaboration with other groups outside The Coalition and your pledge signature will be counted.

Will my name be automatically published on the safeparty.info if I sign this pledge?

If you would like your name to be publshed on the safeparty.info website you will need to check the box requesting to be listed.  If you do not check the box than no, your name will not be listed and will kept confidential.

If I sign the Pledge, will I be held legally acountable for underage drinking that occurs in my home?

Signing the Pledge does not automatically hold you legally accountable any more than anyone who did not sign the Pledge.  However, signing the Pledge demonstrates a commitment to not serve alcohol to minors as well as a commitment to take any necessary and reasonable steps to prevent teens from consuming alcohol in your home.

I do not have any children or my children are all adults now.  Can I still sign the Pledge?

Yes, in fact we encourage all community members to sign the pledge and make the commitment to keep Sonoma Valley Teens safe and sober.  Additionally, it should be noted that the Sonoma pledge is unique from many other community’s pledges in that it does include the entire community and not just parents.  Petaluma, CA is another community who also included non-parents.