The city of Elk Grove, inundated each year by hundreds of disturbances involving underage drinking, is about to become the nation's latest city to hold party hosts – even parents – liable for teens' alcohol consumption.

Under the "social host liability" ordinance, expected to take effect in July, parents or guardians won't need to be at home or at a party to face possible fines and thousands of dollars in potential enforcement costs.

Making hosts liable is the latest approach to a youth-drinking problem once regarded as a rite of passage.

• In December, 2008, a 17-year-old Palo Cedro high school student, Shelby Lyn Allen, died after drinking at a friend's home.

• In February, 18-year-old California State University, Chico, freshman Bethany Dixon of Sacramento made news when she suffered severe alcohol poisoning after drinking at a friend's home. She survived.

In recent years, cities from San Diego to Rancho Cordova have adopted social-host ordinances.

Data from Mothers Against Drunk Driving show close to 50 jurisdictions in California have acted, with more in other states.

Some authorities say the mere threat of fines helps reduce problems with teen drinking.

On Friday, Elk Grove Police Chief Robert Lehner said he, too, is hopeful the ordinance will save lives.

"I've been to parties where there are dead kids," said Lehner. "This is that serious."

The Elk Grove measure, sought by local residents, won unanimous City Council approval last week. A pro forma consent vote expected on June 10 will make it effective 30 days later.

Lehner said Elk Grove has about 1,000 disturbances each year involving unruly parties, noise or music at private residences. The majority involve underage drinking.

Not all would merit use of the ordinance. But in the most serious cases, police are likely to apply the measure as well as seek criminal charges based on violations of state law.

Any homeowner may be viewed as liable when they knowingly allow gatherings where there is underage drinking. If a juvenile throws the party, parents may face liability even if they weren't home and "reasonably should have known," the ordinance says.

Violators will face civil fines of $100. Second or third offenses in a 12-month period will bring $200 or $500 fines, respectively, with the money going to a special fund for prevention of underage drinking.

The bill for law enforcement response could be much higher – in serious cases, likely thousands of dollars.

"If we end up responding to a major party that spills out on the street, the (police) bills go up pretty fast," Lehner said.

In Modesto, a similar 2-year-old ordinance is giving parents ammunition to tell children, "I can't run the risk. I'm going to be billed for the officers' time. And I'm going to be fined,' " said police Detective Jim Rokaitis.

"What we notice is that we still found parties, but rarely was a parent on scene who approved what was going on," Rokaitis said.

Modesto also uses frequent "party patrols."

"The old way, you'd get to a loud party, the music would go off and the party is over. You'd have everybody go home and you'd go to the next call," Rokaitis said. "Now, we're involved."

With the party patrol, the police divide and conquer, he said. Individuals 18 to 20 years old – still too young to purchase alcohol – would constitute one group. Those who haven't been drinking may be asked to take others home.

Youths 17 and under who have been drinking are deemed to be in "constructive possession of alcohol," Rokaitis said.

"We take temporary custody, issue them a citation" and call their parents so they can give their children a ride home.

Call The Bee's Loretta Kalb, (916) 321-1073.