What are the penalties for underage drinking?

To prevent underage drinking the state laws mandate the possession of alcohol by a minor is a legal offense. Under the National Minimum Drinking age individuals must be 21 years or above to consume alcohol legally and you probably do not need a Dallas, TX criminal defense lawyer such as Robert Gregg to figure this out. The laws regulate public possession of alcohol and not private possession as you may know. There are some states that have laws targeting private possession.

What are the legal exceptions granted for ‘Public Possession’?

·         When a minor is served alcohol for a religious purpose under the supervision of his/her legal guardian or parents it is not public possession.

·         Exceptions are also made when a doctor or a dentists administers alcohol for medical reasons.

·         Often private establishments like clubs offer alcoholic beverages to minors. This too is not considered public possession.

·         If a minor is employed lawfully by an alcohol retailer or manufacturer then possession of alcohol by that minor is not an offense, say North Eastern Texas criminal defense attorneys.

How do the states battle underage alcohol consumption?

·         There are regulations that prohibit shops from selling alcohol to minors.

·         Minor are also not permitted under the state laws to purchase alcohol.

·         In some states, minors are only allowed possession of alcohol when they are under the supervision of adults or if they are employed as a waiter. However, other states view possession as a crime without exception.

·         In many states consumption of alcohol is an offense irrespective of circumstances.

·         Under the state laws a minor must not misrepresented his/her age to get alcohol.

Some Aggressive State Laws

Some states handle the problem more aggressively than others and have implemented stricter laws which a Dallas, TX criminal defense lawyer who works for the Law Offices of Robert Gregg (http://www.gregglawdallas.com/) will be cognizant of.

·         In a few states minors are not permitted to enter establishments that serve drinks such as cocktail clubs and bars. The only exception is for those employed by the establishment.

·         Under the Kegger laws applied by some states, the vendor must attach a tag with a purchaser’s identification. If a law enforcement officer finds this tag at a private party where minors were served drinks then the purchaser can be traced and booked for a criminal offense.

·         Some states can cancel the driver’s license if minors are caught drinking.

·         Many states have implemented laws that make false IDs almost impossible to obtain. Credit cards and other identification documents go through a stringent set of checks during their issuance and therefore making copies has become next to impossible.

Since state laws vary it is important to engage a local criminal defense lawyer who is well versed with the regulations.

What are the penalties for a MIP (Minor in Possession)?

Minors who are guilty of consumption of alcohol will be subjected to jail time especially if he/she is a repeat offender and will have to pay some fines. However, if the minor has a Dallas, Texas criminal defense lawyer then he might skillfully divert the verdict to community service and supervised counseling. Similarly, the alcohol provider will face charges that might lead to revocation of license, fines, and jail time. The provider can be the vendor as well as hosts of private parties.

If you have any legal problem you need to hire Robert Gregg. His law firm has not just won Super Bowls like the Cowboys did in in the 1990s but they have won Super Bowls this century as well and their winning percentage is consistently impressive. Unlike Tony Romo, they do not throw interceptions all of the time either. If you need legal help, Robert Gregg and his team are the folks you need to call since the law is complex and when you combine that with your own life, it can be overwhelming.