IMPORTANT NEWS...
State Agency Urges Teens, Parents to Celebrate Prom Safely
April 12, 2012
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), which houses the state’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT), today urged teens to celebrate the 2012 prom season safely by not drinking. The Department also reminded parents that house parties where alcohol is provided to minors are illegal and dangerous and encouraged parents to talk to their kids about enjoying a safe prom without alcohol.
“Prom should be a time to celebrate, but in a responsible way,” said DBPR Secretary Ken Lawson. “Underage drinking is dangerous and can end in tragedy.”
Underage possession and consumption of alcohol and buying alcohol for or selling to a minor are second-degree misdemeanors, and violations could result in up to 60 days in jail and up to $500 in fines. Last year, to help curb underage drinking, Florida’s Legislature passed a law to make parents criminally liable for allowing underage consumption of alcohol at open house parties. Prior to the passage of the additional language, adults who allowed open house parties where alcohol was present could only face civil penalties.
Throughout this year’s prom season, the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco will perform compliance checks at licensed establishments to identify the sale of alcohol to minors. The Division is charged with enforcing Florida’s alcoholic beverage laws, including the prohibitions against underage drinking, and regularly conducts compliance and enforcement checks throughout the state.
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly. The Department licenses and regulates more than one million businesses and professionals ranging from hotels and restaurants, real estate agents and accountants to veterinarians, contractors and cosmetologists. For more information, please visit www.MyFloridaLicense.com.
More information about DBPR is available online at www.myfloridalicense.com. Also, follow @FloridaDBPR on Twitter or Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation on Facebook for updates about license cycles, events and other important news.