If you’re one of the scores of parents opening up your home to a graduation party this weekend, Talksooner.org’s prevention experts are reminding parents and caregivers of  Michigan’s social hosting laws.

Specifically, parents can be held legally responsible if minors are caught drinking alcohol on your property, regardless of who provided the alcohol.  Additionally, providing controlled substances of any kind to minors is called social hosting, and Michigan law has some severe penalties around it.

Here’s some facts about social hosting in Michigan:

• “Social gathering” is defined as an assembly of two or more individuals for any purpose, unless all of the individuals attending the assembly are members of the same household or immediate family

• Adults who are charged with this violation face a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 30 days or by a fine of not more than $1,000, or both. For a second or subsequent violation the person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or by a fine of not more than $1,000, or both

• Marijuana is included under Michigan’s social hosting law

• Don’t overlook local laws, too! Check with your local municipality since there are some communities that enact additional local ordinances which can include fines and other penalties.

 

For more information, visit  https://socialhost.drugfree.org/state/michigan/