New Hampshire, booze, parties and minors.

Factual Questions
1

http://kyw.com/water/watercooler_story_148102750.html

Does this mean a party with four or less minors is legal??

2

Assuming the article accurately reflects the new law, then a party with four or fewer minors would not be punishable under that particular law. It may mean that one cannot be busted specifically for throwing the party for four minors, but I’m sure NH has sufficient underage drinking and drug laws to penalize any such gathering.

I think this is just an attempt to erect another roadblock to underage partiers, which they will undoubtedy get around.

3

First some pointers:
HB464, the law that was passed.
The original article from the Portsmouth Herald

The important thing is that the article is wrong. Read the bill. It is not about house parties with minors (who are under the age of 17). It is about house parties with people under the age of 21.

I don’t see any alcohol law covering giving alcohol to someone who can’t possess it legally. Just that you can’t sell it to them, and they can’t posses it. Given that, normally giving kids beer would be covered under intentional contribution to delinquency, which is a catch-all for helping a minor break a law. But it obviously doesn’t apply to 17-21 year olds.

Seems like quite a loophole to me.

4

Did anyone else see that they’re offering pizza delivery people a bountry (reward) for ratting out these parties? I think I read it on Yahoo the other day. Anybody else remember when they taught this was a FREE country? Okay, won’t go on my soapbox.