Marietta ordinance bans those under 18 from bars - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

The Marietta City Council passed an ordinance banning anyone under 18 from entering bars and lounges.

The measure, which prohibits those under 18 from entering the 16 establishments within the city limits, passed by a 5-to-2 vote during Wednesday's council meeting.

Marietta Police Chief Dan Flynn says his department asked city leaders to take action to curb foam parties being held at local bars because the parties attracted a young unruly crowd.

"When young people, when teens go into alcohol establishments and stay there late at night, a lot of negative things happen. There are fights, there's violence…gang activity with those large gatherings," said Flynn.

The parties feature foam-covered dance halls with sometimes scantily-clad girls.

"A lot of these teenagers are as young as 13 years old that attend these teen parties. Even though the alcohol is sold legally to the adults, all this alcohol a lot of times will end up in the hands of teenagers themselves," Marietta Police Officer David Baldwin said.

Authorities said their focus is on teen parties that allow minors into bars and night clubs.

"We have a number of documented and reported incidents of lewd sexual acts that have occurred on these dance floors, sometimes even occurring between the teenagers and adults," said Baldwin. "We've also had numerous reports of fights, of gang activity, of gang members that attend these places, as well as having shootings and stabbings at each one of these parties."

Police there are certain times restrictions already in place. Bars and nightclubs have worked around those restrictions by holding parties earlier and ending them before curfew starts.

Police said a lot of the violent encounters happen in the parking lot after those parties.

The ordinance goes into effect immediately.

State law allows those under 21 to work in bars. Underage employees who have legitimate jobs in those establishments will be allowed to keep their jobs, Flynn said.