BRAINTREE — Police Chief Mark W. Dubois reports that the Braintree Police Department recently responded to a large party at a private residence, at which a number of minors were found to be consuming alcoholic beverages.
On Thursday, Feb. 20, Braintree Police responded to a home on Albee Drive for a report of a large underage drinking party.
Officers met with the homeowners and noticed a number of open alcoholic beverage containers on the lawn and in plain view in the house, including a table in a front hallway of the home. Numerous juveniles, young adults and multiple cases of alcohol and open containers were found throughout the home, including a basement, where a large group of youths had been gathering.
More than 50 underage youths and young adults were present at the party.
Multiple police units were dispatched, and acting in accordance with the Braintree Police Department Underage Drinking Policy, the name of each individual was taken and each underage person was released to a parent or other responsible adult.
No arrests were made. Per Town and Department policy, the police reports were forwarded to the Braintree Public Schools.
“The safety and well-being of minors is our primary concern when we are called to investigate an underage drinking party,” Chief Dubois said. “In this instance, our officers followed the established policies and procedures to the letter in ensuring that everyone made it home safely. With the primary concern resolved, our efforts turn to the ongoing investigation. In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, it is illegal to host an underage drinking party and provide alcohol or minors or allow minors to consume alcohol on their premises.”
Under the Massachusetts Social Host Law anyone “who is in control of the premises and who furnishes alcohol or allows it to be consumed on those premises” constitutes a social host and may face fines, imprisonment or both.
The incident remains under investigation by the Braintree Police Department.
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