top of page

WHAT IS A SOCIAL HOST ORDINANCE?

A local law that makes it illegal for an individual to knowingly allow minors to consume alcohol in or on their property.

WHAT IS A SOCIAL HOST?
A Social Host Ordinance (SHO) holds individuals (social hosts) criminally responsible for hosting or allowing an event on private or public property where persons under age 21 possess or consume alcohol, regardless of who supplies the alcohol to the minors. 
  • Violation of the SHO will cost you $1,000 and/or up to 90 days in jail

It is already illegal to provide alcohol to anyone under the age of 21, and a SHO makes it illegal to provide the space.
  • Providing alcohol to anyone under the age of 21 will cost you up to $3,000 and/or one year in jail
WHO WOULD THIS ORDINANCE AFFECT?
  • Those who give, sell, furnish, or otherwise supply alcoholic beverages to persons under legal age.
     
  • Those who allow persons under legal age to consume alcoholic beverages in or on property they own or control.
     
  • Persons who knowingly permit minors to consume alcohol on their property, even if they didn’t supply the alcohol.
     
  • Adults who know that underage drinking is occurring on their property and either allow it to continue, or do nothing to stop it.
WHAT DOES THIS ORDINANCE AIM TO DO?
Deter underage drinking parties, decrease social access to alcohol by underage youth, and assist parents and communities in their responsibility to keep youth safe.  A violation of the SHO is a misdemeanor, which is punishable by imprisonment for up to 90 days and/or a $1,000 fine.  Sherburne County has a county-wide SHO as well as the following 7 cities:
   •    Becker
   •    Big Lake
   •    Clear Lake 
   •    Elk River
   •   Princeton
   •    St. Cloud
   •    Zimmerman

 

Listen in as Sheriff Brott of Sherburne County and the Chiefs of Police, Chief Nierenhausen of Elk River Police Department, Chief Baloun of Becker Police Department, and former Chief Scharf of Big Lake Police Department answer important questions about Social Host Ordinances. 


 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Learn more about what a Social Host Ordinance is, what it isn't, and why it's important using the following document, Understanding a Social Host Ordinance.  



 
SHO Handout_2023_Page_1.jpg
SHO Handout_2023_Page_2.jpg
UNDERSTANDING A SOCIAL HOST ORDINANCE
bottom of page