Garden City Police Department Commissioner Ernest J. Cipullo would like to remind parents as the end of the school year approaches and teenagers celebrate with proms, parties and other social gatherings, we must review our efforts to emphasize alcohol-free activities for the youth of our community. "Purchasing or possessing alcoholic beverages by anyone under age 21 is illegal and consuming them may result in serious consequences," Commissioner Cipullo said.

"As parents in this community, we must realize that house parties hosted by teenagers without adult supervision allows the opportunity for underage drinking to occur. When these parties do take place, more times than not the neighbors (your neighbors) call the police due to the large number of teenagers that gather in and around the location of the event, and at times destroying property," he added.

When the police department does respond to calls such as this, officers must ensure the safety of all participants (teenagers and juveniles) first. The police department must check the interior of the house if an adult is not present, or at the adult's request, to ensure the safety of children and to ensure medical assistance is not needed by anyone at the event.

The Garden City Police Department has a program to assist parents in preventing underage drinking house parties. Under this program, parents or guardians can complete a Voluntary Consent Form, which allows the police to enter their home when there is an apparent party involving underage alcohol use and/or drug use based on a reported complaint or an officer's observations. With this permission, officers may enter the home even if the parents or guardians are not present. This program is particularly effective when parents go on vacation and teenagers remain at the residence. This form gives authority to police officers to remove unauthorized persons from the residence and to confiscate observed alcohol, drugs and contraband.

A person is guilty of unlawfully dealing with a child when they give or sell any alcohol beverage to a person under the age of 21, other than his/her own children, even in your own home.

A person is guilty of endangering the welfare of a child when being a parent, guardian or other person legally charged with the care or custody of a child less than 18, he fails or refuses to exercise reasonable diligence in the control of such child to prevent them from becoming an abused or neglected child.

Remember: serving alcohol, or allowing alcohol to be consumed by a child less than age 21, other than your own child, in your home or property is a criminal offense. Also, homeowners must keep in mind that civil liabilities can be much more serious and far more damaging than criminal offenses.