[Adopted 4-27-2010 by L.L. No. 22-2010 (Ch. 214, Art. IV,
of the 1985 Code)]
A.
This Legislature hereby finds and determines that drinking games
like "beer pong" have become increasingly popular in recent years.
B.
This Legislature also finds and determines that some drinking games
have become so popular that they have led to the development of video
games, board games, branded products used for game play, and even
a "World Series of Beer Pong."
C.
This Legislature further finds and determines that many of these
drinking game products are sold at retail stores and malls throughout
Suffolk County and, as such, are readily accessible to minors.
D.
This Legislature determines that drinking games promote binge drinking,
a behavior that should be discouraged, particularly among young people.
E.
This Legislature also finds that binge drinking can lead to alcohol
poisoning, a life-threatening reaction to an alcohol overdose that
can cause serious illness or even death.
F.
This Legislature finds that people who begin drinking in their early
teens are four times more likely to become dependent upon alcohol
than those who begin drinking at the legal age.
G.
This Legislature also determines that the brain development of adolescents
can be negatively impacted by alcohol consumption.
H.
This Legislature further determines that young people who abuse alcohol
are more likely to engage in other risky behaviors, including experimentation
with other drugs.
I.
This Legislature finds that the sale of alcohol to persons under
21 years of age is prohibited by state law; common sense dictates
that the sale of drinking games to residents under the age of 21 should
also be prohibited.
J.
Therefore, the purpose of this article is to ban the sale of drinking
games to minors in Suffolk County.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any board game, deck of cards, kit or other product that
is manufactured and/or marketed as being used for a game in which
beer or any other form of alcohol is consumed during the course of
play, which includes, but is not limited to, Beer Pong, Beirut, Flip
Cup, Quarters and Kings.
Any natural person or individual under the age of 21.
Any natural person, individual, corporation, unincorporated
association, proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, joint-stock
association, or other entity of business of any kind.
No person shall sell or offer for sale drinking games to minors
within the County of Suffolk.
Any person who violates any provision of this article shall
be subject to the imposition of a civil penalty of up to $750 for
a first violation and up to $1,500 for each subsequent violation.
Each prohibited product sold shall constitute a separate violation.
This article shall be enforced by the Suffolk County Department
of Health Services.
The Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Health
Services is hereby authorized and empowered to promulgate such rules
and regulations as he or she deems necessary to implement this article.
This article shall apply to the sale of drinking games on or
after the effective date of this article.
This article shall take effect 60 days after its filing in the
office of the Secretary of State.
