Ohio’s Underage Drinking Law (Party Smart)
Ohio’s Underage Drinking Law (also known as Underage Possession, Minor in Possession, Underage Consumption) prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from purchasing, possessing or consuming alcohol prior to your 21st birthday. A violation of this law is a first degree misdemeanor which can subject you to a maximum six month jail sentence and a maximum $1,000 fine.
- Is this unfair? Yes
- Is this hypocritical? Yes
- Is this bad public policy? Yes
- Would I like to see it changed? Yes
You may also violate Ohio’s Underage Drinking Law by being the host. A social host or home owner risks being fined and imprisoned when he/she furnishes alcohol to a person who is not 21 years of age. You may not know the people at your party, but that does not matter to the police. The bigger the party the more likely police will be called and the greater the chance of getting caught and/or charged.
Everyone you know, including the police officer enforcing the underage drinking law may disagree with it, but that does not change the fact that you face life-altering penalties if you get convicted of this offense. Under some (most?) college codes of conduct, merely being charged with violating the underage drinking law may subject you to penalties ranging from residential penalties and university penalties to loss of scholarship or dismissal from your college athletic team. In addition, spending time in jail is humiliating and terrifying. There are long-term penalties to consider. In today’s world you will also see your picture of your mug shot on the internet. What’s worse than that? Seeing the same mug shot sitting on the desk of the person interviewing you for your first job.
Attorney Charles M. Rowland II dedicates his practice to defending the accused drunk driver in the Miami Valley and throughout Ohio. He has the credentials and the experience to win your case and has made himself Dayton’s choice for drunk driving defense. Contact Charles Rowland by phone at (937) 318-1384 or toll-free at 1-888-ROWLAND (888-769-5263). If you need assistance after hours, call the 24/7 DUI Hotline at (937) 776-2671. You can have DaytonDUI at your fingertips by downloading the DaytonDUI Android App or have DaytonDUI sent directly to your mobile device by texting DaytonDUI (one word) to 50500. Follow DaytonDUI on Facebook, @DaytonDUI on Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr, Pheed and Pintrest or get RSS of the Ohio DUI blog. You can email CharlesRowland@DaytonDUI.com or visit his office at 2190 Gateway Dr., Fairborn, Ohio 45324. “All I do is DUI defense.”
Find information on Underage Drinking Law and other city-specific info at the following links:
Fairborn, Dayton, Springfield, Kettering, Vandalia, Xenia, Miamisburg, Springboro,Huber Heights, Oakwood, Beavercreek, Centerville
