Illinois Cracks Down on Underage Drinking

 Posted on June 11, 2018 in Juvenile Crimes

The legal drinking age in Illinois is 21. That being said, this does not stop individuals under the age of 21 from consuming alcoholic drinks at an alarming rate.Underage drinking is dangerous and can have serious consequences. And, to be sure, there are various crimes a juvenile can be charged with in relation to alcohol— underage drinking, drinking and driving, and the use of a fake ID are just a few of the crimes. Each of these crimes can result in punishment that can greatly affect a young person’s life in the years to come.

Crimes Related to Underage Drinking in Illinois

If you or a loved one has been charged with any of the following crimes in Illinois, it is imperative that you reach out to our legal team immediately:

• Underage Drinking: It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to drink alcohol. Illinois law states that the “possession, consumption, purchase, or receipt of alcohol by an individual under the age of 21” results in suspension of driving privileges. The first conviction results in a three-month suspension of driving privileges and court supervision for six months. A second conviction can result in suspension for one year and any other subsequent convictions can result in revocation of a driver’s license.
• Drinking and Driving: Illinois has a zero tolerance policy for underage drinking and driving. For individuals over the age of 21, driving under the influence occurs with a blood alcohol content of .08 or more. For those under the age of 21, any blood alcohol content above a 0.0 can result in a DUI charge. A driver under the age of 21 with any amount of alcohol in their system will lose their driving privileges for three months for the first offense.
• Fake ID: Underage individuals may choose to use fake state IDs or the IDs of others who are over the age of 21. In Illinois, it is a Class A Misdemeanor to display or represent as “one’s own any driver’s license or ID card issued to another person.” Additionally, an individual can be charged for using an ID that is fictitious. Further, the use of a fake ID can also amount to a Class 4 Felony. Possessing a fraudulent Illinois ID card or driver’s license is just one other way to elevate the crime to a felony.

Not only can an underage person face charges relating to underage alcohol consumption or fake identification, but those who supply alcohol to a minor, or provide a fake ID, can also be charged with a misdemeanor or felony.

Let Our Attorneys Help You Today

Attorney Christopher M. Cosleyisavailable to help you with any underage drinking issues that may arise.He understands that kids make mistakes and those mistakes should not affect them for the rest of their adult life. Dedicated Rolling Meadows criminal defense attorney Christopher M. Cosley works hard to give the best possible defense under the circumstances. Do not let one bad choice as a juvenile follow you for the rest of your life. Contact us for a consultation today.

Sources:

https://www.illinois.gov/ilcc/education/pages/under21laws.aspx

http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/losepriv.html