Pennsylvania Adult May Be Held Responsible For Liability Due to Underage Drinking
A new nationwide study released June 26, 2008 by SAMHSA has revealed that many teens get alcohol from their parents or other adults. According to the study, 40 percent of the underage drinkers got the alcohol from an adult for free. As a Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyer, I have seen cases where parents or adults become personally responsible for the negligence and resulting injuries caused by drunken teens. In other words, if you give alcohol to your teenager and he or she ends up harming someone (examples - car accidents, fires, physical violence) then you could be personally responsible for the negligence of the teen. Many times, your homeowners insurance will cover you, assuming you have such insurance.
So, this becomes a two part problem. First, adults who provide alcohol to minors are directly contributing to the underage drinking, in essence enabling the minor to drink by providing the alcohol. Underage drinking and the consequences that accompany this behavior are often catastrophic in nature. Second, adults who provide the alcohol may be held responsible for the actions of the minor. This could be true even if the minor leaves the house and continues to drink before engaging in the harmful act.
Related Web Resources:
SAMHSA - Full Report: Underage Alcohol Report
