November is SAFE Homes month in Verona. Created by the Verona Municipal Alliance Committee, SAFE Homes is a pledge to secure firearms, medications and alcohol, actively work to prevent underage drinking and drug use, forbid bullying, and evaluate computer, phone and social media usage.
SAFE Homes also enables Verona parents and guardians to create a community with people who have pledged to not allow underage alcohol and drug use in their homes and on their property. When you sign the SAFE Homes pledge, VMAC adds your family’s name to a list that is made available to others who have also taken the pledge. VMAC has also created a window sign for you to print out and show that yours is a Verona SAFE Home.
If you would like to be added to the SAFE Homes registry please email [email protected] with the following information:
• Student last name and Parent/Guardian full name(s)
• School(s) the child(ren) in your household attend
• Primary contact phone number and type (home or cell)
• Primary contact email: Indicate if you do not want your email address published in the
contact list. If not, it will be used for communication from VMAC only.
Taking the SAFE Homes pledge does not make you legally responsible. New Jersey law already makes us all responsible. New Jersey law holds you legally accountable if alcohol is served to underage persons in your home.
New Jersey law (2c:33-17a) states that the legal age for purchase, possession or consumption of any alcoholic beverage is 21 years of age or older. Although it is legal for parents to choose to serve their own children on their property, it is illegal to serve alcoholic beverages to others under the age of 21. The maximum penalty is $1000 fine and 6 months in jail. In addition, parents could be held civilly liable for any incident arising as a result of serving or allowing alcohol to be consumed on their property.
Even with the SAFE Homes pledge, VMAC says that parents and guardian should never assume that because someone signed the pledge that a party is supervised. VMAC gives pledge signers phone numbers so that they can make a call to be sure.
For more information, email VMAC at [email protected]
