In an effort to target underage drinking, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi signed into law a measure that will hold homeowners and renters of domiciles where underage drinking is taking place responsible.

The law, named "Social Host," allows law enforcement agencies to punish homeowners and renters, ages 18 and older, who knowingly permit underage drinking in their homes.

The bill was sponsored by Legislator Dave Mejias, passed unanimously by the Nassau County Legislature and signed into law by Suozzi on Tuesday, July 17.

According to the county executive, alcohol is a factor in nearly half of all teen car crashes and more than two-thirds of teen suicides. This measure, the county hopes, will dissuade residents from allowing underage drinking in their homes, "We have to move beyond the historic belief that underage drinking is a right of passage," said Suozzi.

The offense of allowing underage drinking carries a $250 fine for a first offense, $500 for a second and a third offense is punishable by a $1,000 fine plus possible jail time for the owner or renter of the domicile where the underage drinking is taking place.

"Allowing underage drinking in your home is not going to be tolerated," said Mejias.

Those parents who go on vacation and leave their home in care of their kids who may host a party where underage drinking takes place will not be found liable.

The burden of proof that a resident who is the owner or renter of a residence where underage drinking is taking place and condones such behavior will fall on the Nassau County District Atttorney's Office.

Suozzi doesn't expect the law to completely stop underage drinking but he does believe it is the beginning of a drumbeat of a message that underage drinking will not be tolerated.

Nassau County's social host law does make one exception; adults may give minors alcohol for religious ceremonies such as Passover seders.