Antioch raises fines for underage drinking

Antioch officials have significantly increased fines for underage drinking and social hosting in an effort to deter teen alcohol use.

The village board approved the changes Monday, following a decision in neighboring Kenosha County, Wis. to boost underage drinking fines. The maximum fine there is more than $1,000.

“Kids from Wisconsin were coming to Antioch to drink because the fine was $50 in Antioch. I found this fine was way too low,” Antioch Police Chief Craig Somerville said.

The village’s new fine for underage drinking rose from $50 to $150 for the first offense. The second offense will cost $500, while the fine for additional offenses is set at $750.

For a social hosting violation, the first offense rose from $75 to $500, and any subsequent offenses will cost $750. Social hosting makes any adult accountable for having a gathering where minors are using alcohol and drugs.

Repeat offenders may be required to take alcohol classes or have their driver’s license revoked, officials said. Somerville said the level of alcohol in the offender’s system is also a factor in the penalties.

Somerville said the village’s previous fines were not consistent with those in neighboring communities.

He said he thinks the higher fines will be a deterrent, and will make teenagers less likely to come from Wisconsin to Antioch and drink.

“These laws are here for public safety reasons and we are here to enforce them,” he said.

The new fines will go into effect Friday, officials said.

“This is a public safety issue. This is a good thing for Antioch. It sends a message that we are not going to tolerate minor consumption of alcohol and certainly not public hosting of alcohol,” Somerville said.