The Austin City Council made the right move Monday night when it unanimously passed the ‘social host’ ordinance.

Austin now joins roughly 30 other cities and counties in Minnesota that have passed similar laws.

As reported by the Herald’s Mike Rose, the ordinance means that people who allow minors to drink — without taking steps to prevent it — will be slapped with misdemeanors.

Some may argue the law is too invasive into peoples’ homes, but we don’t for two reasons.

First, there are exceptions to the ordinance for religious observations or instances when a minor consumes alcohol with only his or her parents around. And second, the law could be a valuable tool when it comes to fighting underage consumption.

Is this ordinance going to stop underage drinking? No.

But it may help decrease the problem and that would be a significant step in the right direction.