Drawing the Line on Underage Alcohol Use - Alcohol - Tobacco Laws

[Howard Hartman]

Drawing the Line on Underage Alcohol Use

Alcohol - Tobacco Laws

Tobacco Products: a minor (under the age of 18) may not use or possess a tobacco product or attempt to obtain tobacco by using a false identification

Possession of alcohol under 21 years of age: it is unlawful for any person under the age of 21 year to have in his/her possession, or under his/her charge or control, any alcoholic beverage

Obtaining alcohol for minors: it is unlawful for any person to obtain any alcoholic beverages from any person licensed to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption by any person under 21 years of age, knowing that the person is under 21 years of age

Adult Responsibility: an adult may not knowingly and willfully allow an individual under 21 years of age to actually possess or consume an alcoholic beverage at the residence, or within the cartilage of his/her residence (leased or owned)

Possessing alcohol on school property: a person may not drink or possess any alcoholic beverage on the premises of any public elementary or secondary school

Sales to minors prohibited: a licensee may not sell or furnish alcohol to a person under 21

Possession of false identification: an individual under the age of 21 year may not possess a card or document that falsely identifies the age of the individual under circumstances that reasonably indicate an intention to violate the provisions of this section

Open Container in the motor vehicle: an occupant of a motor vehicle may not possess an open container that contains any amount of alcoholic beverage in a passenger area of a motor vehicle on a highway (driven, stopped or standing)

Open Container in the motor vehicle: exceptions are: motor vehicles for hire such as a bus, taxicab, limo or the living quarters of a mobile home

Open Container in the motor vehicle: Open container means a bottle, can, or other receptacle that is open or has a broken seal or from which the contents are partially removed

Disorderly intoxication: a person may not be intoxicated and endanger the safety of another person or property or be intoxicated or drink any alcoholic beverage in a public place and cause a public disturbance

Drinking in public: a person may not drink any alcoholic beverage while on public property unless authorized, in parking lots open to the public in general, or in parked vehicles at the above locations

Drinking in public: public property is defined as any building, ground, park, street, highway, alley, sidewalk, station terminal, or other structure, road, or parking lot on public land

Driving vehicle while under the influence of alcohol: a person may not drive a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol

Driving vehicle while impaired by alcohol: a person can not operate a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol

Driving vehicle while impaired by drug(s) or drug(s) and alcohol: a person may not drive while impaired by drugs and/or drugs and alcohol combination. Cannot operate vehicle safely

Driving vehicle while under the influence of drugs: a person may not drive while under the influence of any controlled dangerous substance

The 12 Hour Rule: an arrestee may not drive a motor vehicle within 12 hours after the arrest for an alcohol violation

Provisional License: A person operating a vehicle on a provisional license cannot drive from 12:00am to 5:00am. There are no exceptions to this law, including prom night.

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CHARGE	PENALTY
Alcohol, Adult Responsibility	$1000/1500
Alcohol, Drinking in Public	$100
Alcohol, Fail to produce ID	$50 Criminal arrest
Alcohol, Furnish to <21	$1000/1500 2nd
Alcohol, Misrepresent age	$500/1000 2nd
Alcohol, Obtain for <21	$500/1000 2nd
Alcohol, Possession by <21	$500/1000 2nd
Alcohol, Possess False ID <21	$500/1000 2nd
Alcohol, Possess Keg w/o registration	$500
Alcohol, Possess Keg altered form	$500
Alcohol, Allow <21 to drink from keg	$500
Alcohol, Possess on School Property	$500
Alcohol, Possess Open Container	$100
Alcohol Sale to Minors	$1000/2 years in jail
Alcohol open container in the Motor Vehicle	$25.00
Consumption in passenger area	$25.00
Disorderly Intoxication	$100/90 days in jail
Disturbing the Peace	$500/60 days in jail

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Underage (under 21 years old) alcohol use is illegal, unhealthy and unacceptable

Courtesy of Drawing the Line on Under 21 Alcohol Use
Substance Abuse Prevention
2424 Reedie Drive
Wheaton, Maryland 20902

For further information contact 240-777-1123 or 301-718-2467