A metro Atlanta county is cracking down on underage drinking.

Cobb County last week became the second jurisdiction in the area to approve an ordinance aimed at holding adults more accountable for their role in underage drinking.

The so-called social host ordinance includes penalties for hosting parties where alcohol is available to minors.

Cobb County's ordinance complements the state's existing law prohibiting furnishing alcohol to minors.

The local rules set the minimum penalty for an initial offense at $150; second and subsequent offenses begin at $500, with a judge's discretion to enforce heavier penalties. The offense is a misdemeanor.

Cobb County joins hundreds of communities in about two dozen other states with social host ordinances.

Tags: Cobb County, alcohol laws, underage drinking, social host ordinance