How can I be charged with Furnishing when I was just present at the party that was hosted by my roommates?

The Party was Hosted by Roommates

The Superior Court considered and rejected this exact argument in an appeal of a Centre County Furnishing Alcohol to Minors case involving a Penn State student. The charge of Furnishing Alcohol to Minors prohibits a person from “furnishing” alcohol to an underage person, and “furnishing” is defined in section 6310.6 of the Crimes Code as “supply, give or provide to, or allow a minor to possess on premises or property owned or controlled by the person charged.” In Commonwealth v. Lawson, the Centre County criminal defense lawyer argued that the Penn State student charged with Furnishing Alcohol to Minors could not be convicted of the offense as he did not have complete control over the premises because he had other roommates. The court rejected the defense attorney’s argument and stated that the Penn State student’s decision to drink along with his underage guests indicated that he condoned the activity that was occurring in an apartment which the student controlled. The Superior Court upheld the Penn State student’s conviction of Furnishing Alcohol to Minors.