A mother has been fined €400, €300 suspended, for allowing an under age girl to drink alcohol at a birthday party.

The case centred on a 14-year-old girl who drank so much she had to be hospitalised.

The magistrate in The Hague ruled that parents can be held responsible for youngsters drinking at a party organised by them. It is illegal for the under-18s to drink alcohol in the Netherlands.

Clear signal

A court spokeswoman told RTL news the ruling is a clear signal to parents who organise parties for their offspring. ‘The magistrate ruled that the mother, as an adult, is responsible for minors,’ the spokeswoman said.

The party – for a 16-year-old girl – took place in a company canteen two years ago. The 14-year-old got drunk on beer and peach-flavoured wine which she had brought herself, RTL says.

The mother claimed she was not responsible because she had not given the girl any alcohol herself.

Fines

Almost 600 teenagers under the age of 18 have been fined for possessing or drinking alcohol since the ban was introduced in January 2014, the government’s collection agency said last May.

Health ministry research last year showed teenagers are finding it more difficult to buy alcohol since the 18 age limit was brought in.

Nevertheless, 16% of 14 and 15-year-olds and 54% of 16 and 17-year-olds told researchers they had drunk alcohol in the previous month. In 41% of cases it was bought for them buy their parents, the survey showed.