Hawaiʻi police officers have responded to several reports in residential areas of large parties with fifty or more juveniles drinking alcohol within the last week. In Waikoloa a 17-year-old male juvenile and a 19-year-old male were arrested after acting disorderly, challenging police officers to a fight, and refusing to leave the area. Both were found in possession of alcoholic beverages.

Police are reminding the public about the laws relating to promoting intoxicating liquor to a person under the age of twenty-one. Hawaiʻi law chapter 712-1250.5 prohibits a person from permitting persons under the age of twenty-one to posses intoxicating liquor while on property under their control. The law further prohibits anyone from knowingly giving to a person under the age of twenty-one intoxicating liquor.

Hawaiʻi law chapter 281-101.5 prohibits anyone under the age of twenty-one from possessing intoxicating liquor.

In addition to the criminal laws, Hawaiʻi state law 663-41 holds any person twenty-one years of age or older, responsible civilly for; owning, occupying or controlling premises on which alcoholic beverages are consumed by persons under the age of twenty-one and who knows of alcohol consumption of persons under the age of twenty-one and who reasonably could have prohibited or prevented such alcohol consumption.

Police are requesting anyone hosting large parties be aware of the consequences if there are persons under the age of twenty-one found consuming alcoholic beverages at these parties.

SOURCE: Hawaii County Police