38 Minors Charged With Possession of Alcohol in Reading

On Sept. 2, according to Reading Police, officers reported to a house party were over 40 youths were present without adult supervision. As a result of the party, 38 minors are being charged with possession of alcohol and one youth is being charged with furnishing alcohol to minors, police said.

Reading Police have decided to implement a Zero Tolerance Policy regarding cases similar to this one. Any person under the age of 21 caught in possession of any amount of alcohol will be charged with minor in possession of alcohol, police said. This also includes constructive possession, which means that minors can be charged even if they are not physically holding alcohol.

According to police, anyone who furnishes alcohol to anyone under 21-years-old will also be charged. 

“Furnish shall mean to knowingly or intentionally supply, give, provide to, or allow a person under 21 years of age to possess alcoholic beverages on premises or property owned or controlled by the person charged," police said in a recent press release. "The law clearly applies to minors who host alcohol parties while their parents are away, since they are in control of the property when their friends arrive."

This goal of this new policy is to reduce the amount of substance abuse in town. 

To learn more about preventing substance abuse, visit the Reading Coalition Against Substance Abuse Edline page.