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Study Hall We hear about underage drinking all of the time, but do we really understand what the laws and consequences are?

21 Minimum Drinking Age Law

In all 50 states and D.C., the minimum drinking age is 21. It is illegal to possess or purchase alcohol, and in most states it is also illegal to consume or attempt to purchase alcohol while underage.

Zero Tolerance Law

It is illegal in all 50 states and D.C. for a person under 21 to drive with any measurable amount of alcohol in their system. That means nada, zilch, nothing. The illegal drunk driving limit for those 21 and older is .08 percent blood alcohol concentration (BAC), which is the law in all 50 states and D.C.

Fake IDs

Using a fake ID to purchase alcohol is illegal in every state and D.C. And don't even think about changing the data on a driver's license to make a fake ID. It's a felony in many states and punishable by major jail time and hefty fines.

Responsible Adults

Or shall we say IR-responsible? It is illegal for an adult to provide or sell alcohol to anyone under 21 in all 50 states and D.C. In many states, adults may be held liable if someone under 21 drinks at a private residence, drives home and causes a crash that results in death, injury or property damage.

Consequences

Penalties for breaking any of these laws vary from state to state. Typically for a first offense, you could face fines, a mandatory alcohol awareness course, community service and/or suspension of your driver's license. And it only gets worse for second and subsequent offenses.

But there are so many other consequences to consider than a police citation or arrest. Think of the emotional and physical ramifications of deaths and injuries from drinking underage. Each year, more than 6,000 young people ages 15-20 are killed due to alcohol-related causes including homicides, suicides, car crashes, falls, burnings, drownings and more. Not to mention the violence, sexual assault, date rape, unsafe sex and unplanned pregnancies that happen when under the influence of alcohol.

Protect yourself. Know your state laws and the consequences of your actions. You can save yourself time, money and heartache by making the choice to be BuzzFree!

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