Sadly, it's an all-too-familiar scenario: Mom and Dad are out of town for the weekend, so a teen has a few friends over to party. Without supervision, the liquor flows freely, text messages fly about "Party Central" and soon the group grows to dozens of underage drinkers.

Should the absent adults be held responsible for the drunken driving or other behaviors that might result?

The first draft of a Minnetonka ordinance was unclear on that point. That's why City Council members and others smartly questioned if the proposed ordinance overreached by holding parents and other adults accountable in absentia. That approach would have taken the "social host" concept a step too far. In most cases, it's unfair to hold people liable for illegal activities that occur in their absence and without their permission.

But under language recently added to the proposed ordinance, adults would not be criminally responsible if they did not know a gathering was planned or that alcohol and minors would be present.

If adults knew about those conditions and took no reasonable steps to prevent them, they could be held liable. Those convicted would be subject to a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail. Reasonable steps would include directing that no liquor be served, checking identification for ages, or supervising activities. In cases when adults are away, they would have to instruct their children not to serve alcohol. Those are sensible provisions.

According Minnetonka City Attorney Desyl Peterson, the primary target of the "absentee" part of the rule is college-age adults who provide a gathering place for minors to drink. Yet it also applies to parents if it is demonstrated that they supported or encouraged a drinking party.

If adopted, Minnetonka would join 21 other Minnesota cities and counties with social host ordinances. Two years ago, Chaska adopted the state's first such law, and Fergus Falls, Willmar, Roseville, Mankato, Duluth and Kandiyohi County followed, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

Social host laws are needed to combat underage drinking. Too often adults offer easy access to alcohol for the under-21 set. In fact, American Medical Association surveys have found that one out of three teens say they got alcohol from a consenting parent or other adult.

Many well-meaning parents allow teen drinking under their roofs because they think it's safer. The rationale is that kids will drink anyway, so containing them and taking away the car keys will keep them out of harm's way. But intoxicated teens who walk away from parties can still get in trouble. Studies show that young people are more likely to binge drink when they consume liquor in groups. That can lead to alcohol poisoning, unprotected sex, suicide and brain damage. Supporting that behavior in any way is a bad -- not to mention illegal -- idea.

Minnetonka City Council members are expected to consider the proposal today. They should pass a law that clearly seeks to punish those adults who actively enable underage drinking.