Will Underage Drinking Affect My Child’s Future?

 Posted on March 05, 2024 in Underage Drinking

Despite popular portrayal online and in the media, underage drinking does have serious consequences. When your child is arrested for underage drinking, the penalties she faces may be serious, and she may have a permanent mark on her record. An experienced Illinois criminal defense lawyer is essential to advocating for reduced consequences if your under-21 child has been caught drinking.

Penalties for Underage Drinking in Illinois

The State of Illinois takes underage drinking very seriously, and there are consequently serious penalties when an underaged young adult is caught drinking. In Illinois, underage drinking is considered a misdemeanor offense.

The penalties for an underage drinking misdemeanor include:

• Fines up to $500

• Jail for up to six months

• Suspension of driving privileges for up to three months

If an underage individual is drinking and decides to drive, he may be charged with a DUI. This can be especially serious because when this happens, young adults are often with their friends. Even if the car is not crashed and nobody gets hurt, driving drunk with passengers can lead to serious trouble for the driver. Just driving alone and getting repeat DUI offenses or a BAC over 0.08 may lead to a suspension of driving privileges for up to one year. This can have a negative impact on your child’s ability to work, drive to school, and do other activities that are important to young adults. 

Worse, being charged with underage drinking or a DUI as a minor may have long-term impacts when it comes to finding employment, applying for colleges or financial aid, or securing housing and loans. Some individuals may be eligible for record expungement, but this is a complicated process.

What is the Illinois Zero Tolerance Law?

The Illinois Zero Tolerance Law is in place to protect underaged people from the consequences of drinking and driving and the negative effects of alcohol consumption at a young age. If a person under the age of 21 is found to possess alcohol or drive with a BAC over 0.00, they can lose their driving privileges for up to a year.

It is important to understand the Zero Tolerance Law in Illinois if your underaged child has been arrested for drinking alcohol or driving with a BAC over 0.00. Even if your child felt completely sober, he could still be facing very serious consequences. An experienced criminal defense lawyer familiar with this law can help you build a strong defense that gives your child’s future the best chance. 

Contact a Kane County, IL Criminal Defense Lawyer

When your child is facing charges for underage drinking or driving while intoxicated, do the most to ensure these charges do not affect your child’s future. The experienced Elgin, IL criminal defense lawyer at The Law Office of Brian J. Mirandola can help advocate for your child in court and guide you through Illinois underage drinking laws.

Call 847-488-0889 for a free consultation.