| Staying current with minor in possession laws can be | | | | influence immediately has their license revoked until |
| difficult. Each state has their own laws and it is | | | | age 21. This happens on the first offense! |
| difficult to remember all of the details. This article | | | | There are a few states that ban a youth from |
| will help you understand the guidelines and common | | | | consuming alcohol but only from one set of |
| points within the law. | | | | locations. A youth is not allowed to consume alcohol |
| In 1984, the National Minimum Drinking Age Act | | | | in a licensed establishment. This means that they |
| (NMDA) was written in to law that includes provisions | | | | can consume alcohol in any other public or private |
| prohibiting the public possession and purchase of | | | | location. The states that allow this are: New |
| alcohol. This resulted in a standard national age for | | | | Jersey, New York and Rhode Island. |
| the sale of alcohol to minors. Amazingly enough, | | | | Many states still hold just the seller or supplier of the |
| there are five states that do not prohibit the | | | | alcohol to the punishment of the law but it is in the |
| purchase of alcohol by a minor. One of these states | | | | works to punish those who purchase and consume |
| is the District of Columbia! This state also doesn't | | | | equally. By misplacing full responsibility it give a |
| restrict the public possession of alcohol by a minor. | | | | strange and unfair view to underage persons, then |
| The NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) | | | | giving them the impression they can impede |
| believes strongly that each state should enforce and | | | | enforcement. No wonder accidents and |
| create a comprehensive purchase of alcohol law to | | | | consumption continues to rise! The National |
| restrict the purchase, attempt to purchase, | | | | Transportation Safety Board strongly encourages the |
| possession and consumption of alcohol by a minor | | | | District of Columbia and all other states enforce a |
| and should prohibit a minor that lies about their age | | | | comprehensive law that bans the attempt by a minor |
| (aka: fake I.D.) to purchase alcohol. | | | | to purchase any alcohol, the possession in public |
| The documented statistics state that motor vehicle | | | | areas (licensed or not), public consumption and the |
| accidents are the number one cause of death among | | | | use of fake identification with the intent to purchase |
| the ages of 15-20. There were an astonishing 7,460 | | | | alcohol. This would contribute to the safety of our |
| deaths due to car accidents in relation to alcohol in | | | | youth and hopefully bring down the minor in |
| 2005! A youth caught driving while under the | | | | possession realities. |