Piscataway Reminds Parents Of Penalties For Hosting Underage Drinking Parties

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Piscataway, New Jersey is seeking to crack down on underage drinking parties this summer, by letting parents know they could pay the price for wild parties on their property.

As CBS2's Jessica Layton reported, cellphones were out to capture a sea of thousands of people partying it up at a home in Piscataway recently.

"This is a very quiet area, but when you bring like thousands of people here at one time, it gets very rowdy," said Dotun Adeyemo.

It wasn't your typical July 4 barbecue, nor was it what Adeyemo, 22, had in mind when he decided to host the holiday celebration at the house on Ambrose Valley Lane where he lives with his mother and siblings.

"I heard like New York heard about it, I heard like Connecticut heard about it, New Hampshire heard about it," he said.

Police also heard about it, and shut it down.

Florence Adeyemo insisted there was no alcohol served at her son's party. Said says she was there to make sure of it.

"There was no underage drinking," she said. "We don't drink. None of us drink."

But a lot of gatherings don't go by the same rules. That is why Monique Thompson of the Municipal Alliance Substance Abuse Task Force is planting signs all around town, reading in red and black block letters, "Parents who host lose the most."

The task force wants parents to come to Piscataway Town Hall to pick up a sign for their property and make a pledge.

"If we have a party at our home, we will not serve alcohol to anyone to under 21," Thompson said.

Thompson said there are two messages. One is for parents – underage drinking is never OK. And for kids -- if your parents are away and you have an underage party, mom and dad are still on the hook.

"Let homeowners know, especially if they have a teenage or college age kids, that there is a huge liability to you personally out there, and be a little bit more cognizant of what goes on in your home," said Piscataway Mayor Brian Wahler.

The mayor also said word-of-mouth and party promotion on social media is leading to out of control crowds. Dotun Adeyemo knows that first hand now.

"Would I do it again? Probably not," he said.

Parents who want a sign for their property can pick one up for the Piscataway Town Hall.