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UNDERAGE DRINKING
*Provided by the Law Offices of David M. Manilla, Esquire - (610)
584-0364
In Pennsylvania, it is illegal for anyone under the
age of 21 to drink alcohol and for anyone over the age of 21 to
provide alcohol to a minor. The penalty for underage drinking is
a fine of up to $500.00 and driver's license suspension. The minimum
fine for a first offense of providing alcohol to minors is $1,000.00.
One of the reasons underage drinking is such a problem
is that it leads to other crimes that hurt innocent people, such
as impaired driving, assault, vandalism and disorderly behavior.
Preventing underage drinking can save lives by stopping risky behavior
that goes along with minors drinking.
FAQS
The American Public Health Association estimates that
two-thirds of high school seniors consume alcohol, with one-third
of those being binge drinkers. It also is estimated that two-thirds
of those under 21 buy their own alcohol.
More teens die from alcohol overdoses or drunk driving
crashes than from all other causes combined. A high proportion of
teen suicides, suicides, homicides, assaults, drowning and recreational
deaths and injuries involve alcohol.
There is considerable evidence that those who drink
at a younger age are more likely to develop addiction or drinking
problems later. Young people who began drinking before age 15 were
four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those
who began drinking at age 21.
The average age when kids say they first tried alcohol
is 12.8. That's sixth or seventh grade.
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