Mt. Lebanon police made numerous arrests for underage drinking at two separate parties allegedly hosted by parents during the month of October.

Spokesman Lt. Aaron Lauth said he wouldn't call it a crackdown, but said it was unusual to have two such parties so close together.

"It's a concern to us, and we deal with it appropriately when it comes about," he said. "Do we always know when it occurs? No."

Shortly before midnight on Oct. 10, police arrived at the Youngwood Road home of Eric and Marian Nabors to investigate reports of a possible underage drinking party. According to the police report, two young men and one young woman, all smelling of alcohol, were near the front porch when the police arrived.

They ran into the house, and then police saw several people run out the rear sliding door of the home, towards a wooded area.

In the basement of the house, police saw more teenagers, a beer pong table, a beer bong and empty beer cans. They smelled marijuana and saw a small marijuana blunt in an ashtray. Police found a bag of marijuana on the first floor next to the dining room table.

According to the police report, Mrs. Nabors came down to the kitchen area and initially told police someone had snuck the beer in without her knowledge. But then she told police that she and her husband had allowed their 17-year-old son to have drinking parties with friends on prior occasions, as well as that night. She woke her husband, who told police he knew of the drinking that was occurring.

Mrs. Nabors said they were not going to let any of the underage drinkers leave intoxicated or drive home. Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Nabors told police how the alcoholic beverages got to the party.

Eric Nabors, 46, and Marian Nabors, 47, were charged with one count each of corruption of minors and furnishing alcohol to minors. Two 17-year-old males, five 16-year-old males, one 17-year-old female and one 16-year-old female were cited for underage drinking.

Two weeks later, police were dispatched to Serpentine Drive operating on a tip sent in to the Pennsylvania State Police underage drinking hotline.

Officers approached the home of Gemma Brailey, 50, at 1:23 a.m. on Oct. 25 and heard sounds indicating a large party. According to the police report, Ms. Brailey came out on the front porch and told police that there was a party taking place and that all the participants were underage. She told police she had hosted and purchased six cases of beer for the party.

Ms. Brailey will be charged with one count of corruption of minors and one count of furnishing alcohol to minors.

Thirty minors were cited for underage drinking, including Ms. Brailey's son, Evan Brailey, 18.

"It is not surprising when there are large get-togethers that there is a chance for multiple arrests," Lt. Lauth said.

In the past few years, arrests for underage drinking have gone down in Mt. Lebanon, from 173 in 2007, to 108 in 2008, to 93 in 2009.

But police are concerned about parents allowing teenagers to drink in their house, Lt. Lauth said.

"Our concern is, what if they get out of the house," he said. Even if the parents are present, drinking-related crimes like assault can still take place, he said.

In Mt. Lebanon, charging parents for providing alcohol to minors is an anomaly, not a frequent occurrence, said Karen Johnson, the director of professional services for Outreach Teen and Family Services.

"I understand what parents are trying to do when they are doing this in their homes," she said. "They feel like they are being protective and it is a safe thing, but I don't think they are thinking about the bigger picture. I don't think these parents are bad parents in any way, or were out to hurt anyone intentionally."

The penalty for an adult convicted of furnishing alcohol to minors is a fine of no less than $1,000 for a first violation, Lt. Lauth said. The penalty for conviction of corruption of minors is up to a judge, so can range from probation to a fine to jail time.

"I think that parents have to be aware of the legal ramifications of providing alcohol to minors in their homes," Ms. Johnson said.

Teenagers should think about the consequences as well, she said.

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