Shorewood Passes 'Social Host' Ordinance

Shorewood passed a new law that goes after adults who knowingly host a party with underage drinking.  Under the ordinance, any adult who has a party and allows underage kids to drink alcohol could be charged with a misdemeanor. Shorewood is the first of four cities, patrolled by the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department, to pass a so-called "Social Host" ordinance.

Shorewood City Council member, Laura Hotveg, tells 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS the new ordinance is a "no-brainer." Hotveg says the goal is to have every community in the Minnetonka School District to pass a similar ordinance. South Lake Minnetonka Police Chief, Bryan Litsey, tells 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, he hopes Excelsior, Greenwood and Tonka Bay follow suit. All four cities are under his jurisdiction.

Greenwood is the only city, of the four, that has voted down a "Social Host" ordinance. Mayor Deb Kind tells 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that a majority of the City Council, at the time, was concerned that parents, who were unaware of underage drinking on their property, could be charged with a crime. Shorewood's news ordinance does not call for the prosecution of parents, or adults, who are not aware of the underage drinking.

The Mayors of Excelsior, Tonka Bay and Greenwood tell 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS their cities will likely re-consider the "Social Host" ordinance now that Shorewood has adopted one.

See other cities and counties with similar ordinances here.