Atlanta GA - can this really happen?

[smashley]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Georgia

My older sister lives in the Atlanta area, and is planning on having a low country boil-type party. It will be outside, music, food and a keg. I was planning on attending the party with my mother, not drink, just go and see my sister and her friends.

My sister calls me yesterday and says I cannot come anymore. Why? Because their neighbors had a similar party, cops came, and issued ten MIPs. I said, "well, ok....I'm not going to be drinking though, and it's not my property nor is it my name that has signed for the keg, plus I will be there in the care of my mother."

Apparently, none of that matters and my simply being there means I could get an MIP. Is this really possible? It seems to me that under this train of thought, I could get an MIP for going to a restaurant where there is a bar - because I'd be in a place where alcohol exists.

Anyone know anything??

 

[FlyingRon]

It's also not your party, and if your sister fears legal entanglements, she IS the host and she IS the one signing for the keg and it is up to her as to who she allows.

We don't know the circumstances around the neighbors party, but it's quite likely that minors did have constructive possession of alcohol. Many bars do ban minors rather than having to police them continually (I've seen those who do mark big X's on underage patron's hands so that they can tell instantly if someone is picking up a drink who is underage).

 

[smashley]

Well I understand it's her party and she can invite who she wants - but the fact is she does want me to come, because her two roommates families will be there and I will be the only family member NOT in attendance.

It just doesn't seem real. Like I said, it seems like under that train of thought, if I went to Applebees and sat in the bar area, I could get an MIP because there would be alcohol near me that others were drinking. It's not like I'm there with a bunch of 24 year olds. My 50 year old mother will be there too, as will several other parents...how could I get an MIP, or my sister get in trouble if I was simply there? I would understand us getting in trouble if I were to drink and be breathalyzed and blow over .00, but if neither of those things happened...

I'm just seriously confused.