What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Maryland
My high-school age children have been asking questions about what constitutes underage alcohol possession. Since I don't know the answers to these questions, I thought I'd post them here.
1) Say, for example, an underage person is at a party and unaware that alcohol is being consumed by other underage kids in another part of the house or outside. If the police raid this party, can the underage person who was not drinking or aware of the presence of alcohol be charged with possession?
I ask this because if the underage non-drinker can be charged with possession, that would mean that he or she needs to be constantly vigilent at parties to make sure that no one is drinking and then leave immediately if they notice people consuming.
2) I understand that if an underage person is handed a drink, holds it and then gives it back without consuming it, saying, "I can't hold this," they can be charged with possession. What about a case where an underage person refuses a drink but has alcohol spilled on them? Is that considered possession, as well?
3) How about a case where an underage person accepts a ride from an underage friend and is unaware that the friend has a case of beer in the trunk? Will all people in the car be charged with possession?
4) Following up on Quest. 1, if an underage person sees alcohol being consumed by other underage people at a party and leaves the party and the cops pull up as he or she is walking away from the scene, can they be charged with possession?
I'm surprised that, for all of the constant reminders to not drink, I can find no info on the Internet about the details of the laws themselves. Thanks to anyone who can help answer these questions!
My high-school age children have been asking questions about what constitutes underage alcohol possession. Since I don't know the answers to these questions, I thought I'd post them here.
1) Say, for example, an underage person is at a party and unaware that alcohol is being consumed by other underage kids in another part of the house or outside. If the police raid this party, can the underage person who was not drinking or aware of the presence of alcohol be charged with possession?
I ask this because if the underage non-drinker can be charged with possession, that would mean that he or she needs to be constantly vigilent at parties to make sure that no one is drinking and then leave immediately if they notice people consuming.
2) I understand that if an underage person is handed a drink, holds it and then gives it back without consuming it, saying, "I can't hold this," they can be charged with possession. What about a case where an underage person refuses a drink but has alcohol spilled on them? Is that considered possession, as well?
3) How about a case where an underage person accepts a ride from an underage friend and is unaware that the friend has a case of beer in the trunk? Will all people in the car be charged with possession?
4) Following up on Quest. 1, if an underage person sees alcohol being consumed by other underage people at a party and leaves the party and the cops pull up as he or she is walking away from the scene, can they be charged with possession?
I'm surprised that, for all of the constant reminders to not drink, I can find no info on the Internet about the details of the laws themselves. Thanks to anyone who can help answer these questions!
