Service Calls Drop in Two Years Since Passage of Social Host Ordinance

Two years after adopting a social host ordinance, Redlands police officials recently announced a 13 percent drop in party-related calls for service. The law targets underage drinking at house parties and allows police to hold social hosts, or those who knowingly provide a location they own or control where minors can gain access to alcohol, responsible. “The purpose of this law is not to hand out citations, but to use it to deter dangerous behavior. Reductions in calls for service from parties frees up valuable resources enabling the police to respond to more pressing community needs,” said Redlands Chief of Police Mark Garcia, who said he felt the social host ordinance was an essential tool in keeping alcohol away from those under 21. Redlands joined over 50 cities and eight California counties who also adopted social host ordinance laws. In Redlands, officials said, party calls for service, which include noise complaints and rowdy behavior, dropped from 1,242 calls in 2011, the year before the social host ordinance passage, to 1,075 in 2014. Police said party calls decreased by 12 percent after the first year of social host ordinance passage, and the reduction moved up to 13 percent in 2014. The Redlands Police Department's Responsible Redlands Initiative, focusing on curbing issues related to underage drinking, and the Common Vision Coaltion also contributed to the reduction in calls for service through campaigns aimed at educating residents of the dangers of underage drinking, police said. “We felt it was important to partner with our police in spreading awareness of this ordinance, which is proving to lower some of the negative effects of underage drinking,” said Common Vision leader Mario Saucedo. “These effects are felt not only among our youth, but also the entire community.”