Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, joined by the Suffolk County Department of Health Services and Partners in Prevention, will launch Suffolk County's “Just Call” campaign in order to arm the community with information about Suffolk County’s Social Host Law.
The campaign will kick off during National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (March 20-26, 2023) with a social medial campaign. The initiative will continue though prom and graduation season, with partner agencies providing educational pre-prom workshops and distributing informational palm cards and stickers with the Suffolk County Police Department’s Cancel the Kegs hotline number, (631) 852-KEGS (5347), and the NYS underage drinking tip line, 1-866-UNDER21 (863-3721).
“As we approach warmer weather and party season, it is important to acknowledge underage drinking as a serious concern,” said County Executive Steve Bellone. “We all need to take personal responsibility and I can’t reinforce enough that hosts must comply with Suffolk County’s social host law.”
In force since 2007, Suffolk County Social Host Law imposes penalties for anyone over 18 who owns, rents, or is otherwise responsible for a home who knowingly allows underage drinking to take place in their home or fails to take reasonable corrective action upon learning that it is taking place.
Any person who violates the law shall be guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500; second and subsequent offenses shall be guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000, a term of imprisonment not to exceed one year, or both.
“The consequences of Underage Drinking can be severe. This campaign reminds us of the social host law but more importantly serves to encourage Suffolk county residents to keep our youth safe. The potential consequence of underage drinking is far greater than any fine,” said Dr. Gregson Pigott, Suffolk County Health Commissioner.
According to the the National Institutes of Health, adults ages 26 and older who began drinking before age 15 are nearly six times more likely to report having alcohol use disorder in the past year than those who waited until age 21 or later to begin drinking.
Residents are encouraged to join in the “Just Call” campaign by sharing the #JustCall campaign messages and information widely.
The following Partners in Prevention agencies are collaborating on this campaign: Eastern Suffolk BOCES, Hope for Youth, Horizons Counseling and Education Center, HUGS, Long Island Prevention Resource Center, Riverhead CAP, Suffolk County Department of Health Services’ Division of Community Mental Hygiene Services, Tobacco Action Coalition, WellLife Network, and YMCA Family Services.