Underage Drinking and Parental Responsibility in Illinois

 Posted on January 10, 2019 in Criminal Law

In the American culture, underage drinking can be a rite of passage when you are a teenager. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) alcohol is the most commonly used drug among Americans ages 12 to 20 and that among high school students, around 30 percent drink some amount of alcohol each month. While alcohol use is common among teenagers, it is dangerous and illegal. Not only is it illegal for a teenager to purchase alcohol, but it is also illegal for teens to consume it. Moreover, it is illegal for a parent or guardian to allow alcohol to be consumed by minors on their property.

Social Host Liability Laws

According to the Illinois Liquor Control Act, it is illegal for anyone to allow those under the age of 21 to consume alcohol on his or her private property, any property that they control or any vehicle or watercraft under their control. You can be both held responsible for the consumption of alcohol by minors if you knowingly allow them to consume it and if you fail to adequately control access to the alcohol.

This is known as the social host liability laws, and it can apply whether you are on the premises during the time alcohol is consumed or not. If you allow minors to consume alcohol on your property, you are guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. You will be responsible to pay a minimum $500 fine, but punishments could be up to $2,500 in fines and up to one year in jail. If a death or a serious injury occurs because of the drinking, you will be charged with a Class 4 felony, meaning you could face up to three years in prison and $25,000 in fines.

Contact a DuPage County Social Host Liability Lawyer

It may seem like a good idea to have your kids drink while they are under your supervision, but it is illegal to do so. What may seem like a night of harmless fun can turn into a night of arrests. At the Davi Law Group, LLC, we can help you mitigate any charges you may have pertaining to underage drinking and parental responsibility. Our experienced Wheaton, IL social host liability attorneys can help you come up with a solid defense and avoid a conviction at all costs. Get in touch with us today to determine what your first step will be. Call us at 630-580-6373 to schedule a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www2.illinois.gov/ilcc/Education/pages/parental-responsibility/know-the-law.aspx

https://www2.illinois.gov/ilcc/Education/pages/under21laws.aspx

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=023500050HArt%2E+VI&ActID=1404&ChapterID=26&SeqStart=8200000&SeqEnd=13600000