Father Facing 'Social Host' Charge Is Doctor at Brown Medical School

The Barrington father who faces a charge of violating the “social host law” is an emergency medicine professor at Brown University's Alpert Medical School, according to the Providence Journal.

Dr. Bruce M. Becker, 56, will be in District Court Wednesday on the misdemeanor charge of procuring alcohol for a minor. He was arrested July 30 at a party at his 26 Bullock Ave. home at which 30 teens had access to beer, vodka and champagne.

Becker also allegedly told the teens at the party to run from the police when they showed up in response to a report of loud music. And he reportedly told them not to submit to preliminary breath tests or PBTs. 

Becker told police that he was hosting a birthday party for his son, 18, and had purchased soda, but he did not know that there was alcohol being served, a comment that Barrington Police Chief John LaCross found hard to believe.

"I find it hard to believe that any adult would not know there was an underage drinking party going on” at their home, LaCross said.

Becker is employed by the University Emergency Medicine Foundation and is the founding member of the Rhode Island Free Clinic, according to the newspaper and the Brown Medical School website. 

The chief of the state medical board said it is aware of the situation but that any disciplinary action against Becker will remain confidential until final adjudication.