A conviction for underage alcohol offenses, including possession of alcohol by a minor and providing alcohol to minors can adversely affect your future including your eligibility for financial aid, school enrollment, school disciplinary proceedings and potential employment opportunities.

Alcohol offense lawyer Robert H. Humphrey, Esq. will represent you when you have been charged by the University of Rhode Island (URI), Narragansett or South Kingstown Police Departments and obtain the best possible outcome for your underage alcohol offense. It may even be possible to have your charges dismissed and your record immediately expunged so that a youthful mistake will not impact the rest of your life.

There are four (4) types of underage alcohol offenses. Pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws 3-8-11.1, furnishing or procuring (providing) alcohol to minors is defined as (1) "furnish" means to provide with, supply, give or purchase; (2) "procure" means to get possession of, obtain by particular care and effort; and (3) "permit" means to give permission for, or approval of, the possession or consumption of an alcoholic beverage by any form of conduct, that would cause a reasonable person to believe that permission or approval has been given.

Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d) of this section it is unlawful for any person twenty-one (21) years of age or older:

(1) to purchase from any licensee or any employee of a licensee any alcoholic beverage for the sale, delivery, service of or giving away to, any person who has not reached his or her twenty-first (21st) birthday;

(2) to purchase from any licensee or any employee of any licensee any alcoholic beverage with the intent to cause or permit said alcoholic beverage to be sold, or given to any person who has not reached his or her twenty-first (21st) birthday;

(3) to knowingly furnish any alcoholic beverage for the sale, delivery, service of or giving to any person who has not reached his or her twenty-first (21st) birthday;

(4) to procure alcoholic beverages for the sale, delivery, service of or giving to any person who has not reached his or her twenty-first (21st) birthday; or

(5) to otherwise permit the consumption of alcohol by underaged persons in his or her residence or on his or her real property.

First offense penalties:

• $350.00 to $1,000.00 fine; and/or
• Imprisonment for a period not exceeding six (6) months;
• Both.

Second offense penalties:

• $750.00 to $1,000.00 fine; and/or
• Imprisonment for a period not exceeding one (1) year;
• Both.

Third or subsequent offense penalties:

• $1,000.00 to $2,500.00 fine; and/or
• Imprisonment for a period not exceeding three (3) years;
• Both.

Pursuant to R.I.G.L. 3-8-10, it is unlawful for minors to possess alcoholic beverages.

First offense penalties:

• $150.00 to $750.00 fine;
• Thirty (30) hours of community service; and
• A minimum sixty (60) day suspension of his or her driver's license.

Second offense penalties:

• $300.00 to $750.00 fine;
• Thirty (30) hours of community service;
• A minimum sixty (60) day suspension of his or her driver's license; and
• A possible substance abuse assessment.

Third or subsequent offense penalties:

• $450.00 to $950.00 fine;
• Thirty (30) hours of community service;
• A minimum sixty (60) day suspension of his or her driver's license; and
• A substance abuse assessment.

Pursuant to R.I.G.L. 3-8-6, it is unlawful to use a fake ID (prohibiting unlawful drinking and misrepresentation by underage persons) to attempt to or to purchase alcohol.

First offense penalties:

• $100.00 to $500.00 fine;
• Thirty (30) hours of community service; and
• A thirty (30) day suspension of his or her driver's license.

Second offense penalties:

• $500.00 to $750.00 fine;
• Forty (40) hours of community service; and
• A three (3) month suspension of his or her driver's license.

Third or subsequent offense penalties:

• $750.00 to $1,000.00 fine;
• Fifty (50) hours of community service; and
• A one (1) year suspension of his or her driver's license.

Pursuant to R.I.G.L. 3-8-9, it is unlawful for a minor to transport alcohol. A minor is not permitted to transport alcohol even if the alcohol was lawfully purchased by a person twenty-one (21) years of age or older. The law does not apply if the minor is transporting alcohol in the course of their employment or if the minor is transporting the alcohol while a relative, twenty-one (21) years or older is in the vehicle.

First offense penalties:

• A fine of not more than $250.00; and
• License suspension for not more than thirty (30) days.

Second offense penalties:

• A fine of not more than $500.00; and
• License suspension for not more than ninety (90) days.

Third or subsequent offense penalties:

• A fine of $500.00 to $950.00; and
• License suspension of one (1) year.

Contact a Rhode Island alcohol offense lawyer from the Law Offices of Robert H. Humphrey about your alcohol offense today!