It is the duty of any person having control of any premises who knowingly hosts, permits,
or allows a gathering at said premises to take all responsible steps to prevent the
consumption of alcoholic beverages by any underage person at the gathering. Reasonable
steps include, but are not limited to, controlling access to alcoholic beverages at
the gathering; controlling the quantity of alcoholic beverages present at the gathering;
verifying the age of persons attending the gathering by inspecting driver's licenses
or other government issued identification cards to ensure that underage persons do
not consume alcoholic beverages while at the gathering; and supervising the activities
of underage persons at the gathering.
(2)
A gathering constituting a public nuisance may be abated by all reasonable means including,
but not limited to, an order by the police requiring the gathering to be disbanded
and citation and/or arrest of any persons under any applicable provision of local
or state law.
(3)
It is unlawful for any person having control of any premises to knowingly host, permit,
or allow a gathering to take place at said premises where at least one underage person
consumes an alcoholic beverage, provided that the person having control of the premises
either knows an underage person has consumed an alcoholic beverage or reasonably should
have known that an underage person consumed an alcoholic beverage and the person having
control of said premises failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent the consumption
of alcohol by an underage person.
(4)
This subsection shall not apply to conduct involving the use of alcoholic beverages
that occurs exclusively between an underage person and his or her parent or legal
guardian as set forth in M.G.L.A. c. 138, § 34.
(5)