Penalties for Underage Drinking

Underage Drinking Penalties:

• Purchase and/or possession of any alcoholic beverage will bring the violator fines, alcohol awareness classes and many hours of community service. A minor requesting an adult 21 or older to give, buy or sell him alcohol is a class A misdemeanor, which means that the punishment could be a fine and/or 30 days or less of imprisonment. An underage driver with signs of alcohol in his system could result in license suspension for three months, payment of a fine and possible loss of his car. A minor driver with signs of alcohol in his system with a passenger under the age of 16 could lead to a license suspension for six months and/or paying a larger fine. There's no penalty for the passenger. Using a fake ID to purchase alcohol or giving an officer a fake name to avoid trouble is categorized as a misdemeanor. Fines could be as high as $1,000.00, and the minor could also face 90 days' imprisonment.

Penalties for Adults Promoting Underage Drinking

• The penalties for purchasing, providing or pouring alcohol for a minor include a $2,500 fine and imprisonment for up to 60 days. The penalties for having a party for underage drinking anywhere may include a $1,000 fine for first offense and $2,000 for the second offense. Penalties for adults who lie about a minor's age to allow her to drink before she is of age may be designated a class 1 misdemeanor and include a 30-day license suspension, and 60 days for the second violation.

Zero Tolerance Law:

• All states have passed the Zero Tolerance Law. Though some states' penalties differ slightly, they might include the following. A minor's first offense of driving while under the influence is considered a class C misdemeanor, which holds a fine up to $500. The minor must attend an alcohol awareness class, put in 20 to 40 hours of community service and have a 60-day suspension of a driver's license. A second offense will bring the same penalties as the first offense except that the license suspension will be for 120 days. The penalties for a third offense will include a suspension of the driver's license for 180 days. If the driver is 17 years old or older, the fine will increase from $500 to $2,000, and the penalties will include imprisonment for no more than 180 days.

States With Exceptions to Underage Drinking

• Forty-two states have their own laws pertaining to underage consumption. The laws state how and why the alcohol consumption is legal. For example, in 30 states, underage drinking is allowed on private, non-alcohol-selling premises with adult consent and in seven states, without parental consent. Thirty-one states allow underage consumption for religious purposes and 21 states, for medical purposes.