A lot of high schools have already had their graduation ceremonies across the country this week.  High school graduation is a transition into adulthood, but does this include alcohol?

Kentucky has adopted some tougher underage drinking laws, and they aren't just aimed at the offenders. Parents are being targeted too. 

It's called the "social host ordinance".  Parents who allow underage boozing on their property could now land themselves in jail.  Lexington Fayette and Urban County Government is currently discussing this ordinance to cut down on the amount of underage drinking in the state.

Ruth Staton, a member of the LFUCG Mayor's Alliance says, "We have laws on the book that address providing adolescents-providing underage people with alcohol."  The social host ordinance would hold adults responsible for underage drinking on their property. This means those who are underage, and drinking at their home are holding not only themselves responsible for their actions, but their parents too.

19-year-old Joe Elswick is among those hoping the ordinance gets off the ground, since alcohol has tragically touched her family.  Elswick says, "Parents believe it is ok for their kids to drink as long as they're at home or in a safe environment.  They can take away the car keys, but the fact is that parents are just reinforcing the idea that it is ok for them to drink underage, and it's not."

With this ordinance in place, a parent is now responsible for what their child does on their property, even when the parent or guardian isn't home. 

These social host ordinances are popping up all over communities across the nation. 

These Kentucky counties have already adopted the ordinance:

Boyle
Breckenridge
Clinton
Hancock
Meade
Mercer
Nelson
Oldham
Washington
Harrodsburg

So, students who are planning to celebrate the beginning of summer, and their transition into adulthood with a cold one, could end up landing their parents in jail.