86 Ga. 751 | Ga. | 1891
The indictment was under section 4540(a) of the code, which reads as follows : “No person or persons, by himself or another, shall sell, or cause to be sold, or furnished, or permit any other person, or persons, in his, her, or their employ, to sell, or furnish any minor or minors, spirituous or intoxicating, or malt liquors of any kind, without first obtaining written authority from the parent or guardian of such minor, or minors, and such person, or persons, so offending shall, on conviction, be punished as prescribed in section 4310 of the code.” This statute is a police regulation, and has regard, not alone to the will and wishes of parents and guardians over the conduct of children, but chiefly to the wholesome restraint and discipline of minors as immature members of society. It relies upon parental discretion, and intends that that discretion shall be exercised by the parent or guardian and not delegated to the child. It has no thought of empowering the parent to make the child the judge of its own needs for intoxicating liquors, without limitation as to time or quantity. On the contrary, the foundation principle of the law is, that'the minor’s discretion is not to be trusted. Hence it requires a decision of the parent or guardian, evidenced by writing. A parental decision not founded
■There was no error in excluding the evidence, nor in refusing to grant a new trial on other grounds.
Judgment affirmed.