Underage Drinking Questions?

[CleoPahd]

My friend's son is in his first year at college. On New Years Eve he went to a party at another student's home, the parents were away. The police were called to a report of a party with underage drinking. At first everyone was told if they called their parents to pick them up they could leave. It took my friend a little while to get to where her son was. By the time she got there he was in handcuffs. A few of the other kids waiting for their parents started to get unruly. Though the officer said he was well behaved, because he was there and there was alcohol he was being arrested and they had every right to arrest him just for being there. He ended up having to spend the entire night in jail, they wouldn't release him until the next day. I think they were making an example of him. My friend is a mess worrying about how this will effect him. He goes to court tomorrow.

 

[kafitty]

it depends on your state and school.

but when i was 19, i was with some friends at our town's July 3rd celebration, and one of them had alcohol in a backpack. Though i was not in *physical* possession, nor was i visibly under the influence, i was in the same car as them, so we all got bagged. Granted, it was July 3rd, so they pretty much rope up everyone for anything, but yes, in MA you can get arrested for just being there.

Also, if your school has a really strict alcohol policy, you may also face repercussions at school for any trouble.

...that being said, i drank through all 5 years of college and never got busted. be smart, avoid the idiots, and get the heck outta there if gets too loud or crowded, cause the cops can feign a noise complaint if it starts looking suspicious.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Also, attempting to discipline those who are being responsible is ridiculous.

Agreed.

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

...that being said, i drank through all 5 years of college and never got busted. be smart, avoid the idiots, and get the heck outta there if gets too loud or crowded, cause the cops can feign a noise complaint if it starts looking suspicious.

MTE. If you want to go to the parties to hang with your friends, just use your head. If you feel uncomfortable, leave.

 

[disneymarie]

I don't see what wearing pajamas to class has to do with underage drinking.

And PJs are comfy. There isn't usually a dress code.

They may be comfy for a Dorm, but they do not belong in a classroom someone’s parent is paying way over $10,000 a year for. It is a shame at 18 a kid has to have a dress code.
One so lazy they lived in the same Hello Kitty PJ's for a week. It was the only thing clean until winter break?????

It goes with the mentality that college is about partying and not dedication for succeeding in life. I attended a top college that not long ago, you wore suits and ties, dress wear. Girls were in a single digits, now are in the 51%. What an honor now that women are such a high standard in a typical known once male predominant.

One DISer posted how she would love to plan another Dis Cruise but with her kids college loans to pay back, there would not be any trips for years.

When did we start to owe our kids a pass in life? I had to work my way and pay my own way. Maybe that is why I had nice clothes and brushed my hair. I wore jeans, but they were clean and did not hand off my butt.

There is a mentality on campuses, and I was at a strong Catholic top school that turned out the top lawyers, doctors and most successful business people in our area, what is going on in the minds of these kids.

They have parents paying for education, they do not have to get up and head into the factory or family owned buiness hrs and hrs like our parents or we did to earn a living at 18.

My son was able to attend a JR college and The municipal police certification act. He paid his way, I did not charge room and board. In the police training the cadets were not properly attired and had to begin a dress code of Khaki pants and shirt dickie type clothes with a tie, men and women. You reflect your inner self in life, by your outer presentation. Morally and ethically.

How does that build character? It is a privilege to be given a college education, not an entitlement to party. There are a lot of ways in life to have fun and grow.

When going over a college record will the student that is involved with community volunteering and school clubs be the best candidate, or the kid that has discipline history.

I admit I am biased because I am an adult, and did have first hand interaction on Campus, and in law enforcement.
I always said to myself, if the parents saw how these kids were treating their best years of their life and parents hard earned savings and budgets....

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

the only person who could get in serious trouble is the person hosting the party, for knowningly allowing minors to be at a party where there's drinking.

if the cops break up the party and suspect you're underage, they'll do a breathalizer and realize that you weren't drinking. you won't get introuble.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

I started attending college this fall. Over break, i've attended my first two "college parties". Most of the people there weren't of legal age to be drinking, but they were. I on the other hand, do not drink. Could I still get in trouble for being at these parties? Even if there is zero alcohol in my system?

When I was dorming I remember we were warned by the RAs that if we were at a party in a dorm/campus apartment and underage and DID NOT have alcohol in our system we could still be kicked out of school or out of the dorms if caught.

And as a a PP mentioned, if you are going into education stay away from those parties. And when you ARE legal and can drink do NOT put any pics of you with alcohol in your hand, or you playing beer pong on your FB or myspace as ANYONE (future employers, parents of future students, students, etc.) can find those pics.

Good Luck!

 

[Teacher03]

the only person who could get in serious trouble is the person hosting the party, for knowningly allowing minors to be at a party where there's drinking.

if the cops break up the party and suspect you're underage, they'll do a breathalizer and realize that you weren't drinking. you won't get introuble.

Not true....read my previous post. That's exactly what I thought before the exact thing happened to my son.

 

[barkley]

Interesting. I am curious as to what school has the time or resources to take every student at ANY party to task because alcohol was present. Leader's of a fraternity serving underage kids, drunk freshmen sneaking alcohol into the dorm, hazing in a rush event....sure. But if a college truly took every kid who was exposed to alcohol but not partaking of it to JC, when do they have time to teach?

Also, attempting to discipline those who are being responsible is ridiculous. Colleges SERVE alcohol to students. They aren't serving it to minors, but the underage kids are there.

maybe the colleges in your region serve alcohol to students, but not in the state where i attended nor where dh does.

back in the 80's the university i attended sold beer and wine on campus at one of the eateries but that was banned soon afterward due to that state's law. previously you would see certain university sites rented out to wedding parties, but when the law came in and so much as a single champagne toast was illegal these weddings dried up.

the university dh attends allows alcohol to be served on campus but only at functions that have made application to and have received approval from the university administrative bureau in order to qualify for a subsequent application to the state board of alcohol in order to receive a permit.
the only place on campus that regularly 'serves' alcohol is the small catholic church, where the wine used in the religious ceremonies in exempt from the alcohol and education codes.

 

[allison443]

the only person who could get in serious trouble is the person hosting the party, for knowningly allowing minors to be at a party where there's drinking.

if the cops break up the party and suspect you're underage, they'll do a breathalizer and realize that you weren't drinking. you won't get introuble.

Sorry, this generalization is not true. It depends on the state law, the town's ordinances, and the particular facts of each situation. I personally know of cases where everyone at the party got arrested or summonsed. The police did not do breathalyzers at the scene-I've never heard of that but that could be the case in other areas.

This is the problem with asking on the disboards...without specifics as the OP's specific situation, location, etc. none of us really know.

 

[allison443]

Not true....read my previous post. That's exactly what I thought before the exact thing happened to my son.

I remember your post about your son. A number of disers stated Oh, it will defintely be thrown out, just explain it to the prosecutor and they'll dismiss, etc. Someone said their husband was a police officer and they were sure your son's case would be dismissed. As you later told us, those posters were wrong. (I recall you had gotten legal advice and weren't just relying on the dis!)

It's fine to ask for advice, and offer advice, on a message board like this. But we have to be wary of broad generalizations (you would never be arrested, the case will be dismissed) because this situation, and other court-related situations, vary so much from state to state, and even within a state, from town to town.
I see the same thing when people post about traffic tickets. People give their own experiences as a guideline for what will happen, which is not always the case.

OP good luck with school! I'm sure you can find like-minded friends in college.

 

[golfgal]

maybe the colleges in your region serve alcohol to students, but not in the state where i attended nor where dh does.

back in the 80's the university i attended sold beer and wine on campus at one of the eateries but that was banned soon afterward due to that state's law. previously you would see certain university sites rented out to wedding parties, but when the law came in and so much as a single champagne toast was illegal these weddings dried up.

the university dh attends allows alcohol to be served on campus but only at functions that have made application to and have received approval from the university administrative bureau in order to qualify for a subsequent application to the state board of alcohol in order to receive a permit.
the only place on campus that regularly 'serves' alcohol is the small catholic church, where the wine used in the religious ceremonies in exempt from the alcohol and education codes.

The college I attended did and still has an on-campus pub where they serve beer and drinks-owned by the college. They are allowed to serve alcohol at parties/receptions, etc. It all comes down to your local liquor laws/license.

 

[disneymarie]

Not true....read my previous post. That's exactly what I thought before the exact thing happened to my son.

Mistaken, it is professional discretion. AND department protocol"
If I did have someone that states they just got there and did not have anything, everyone else concurs, we might know we have no prior interaction; maybe we give a portable breathalyzer. Extremely rare, I remember on two occasions doing this. The second one the device would not work on a person we could smell alcohol.

That person was cited for the possession and told to have their parents take them for a BAC. Use the results at the hearing. They were cited for possession.
Most often, in fact I can not remember ever, it was thrown out. The judge was making a judicial decision based on possession, they were there with it. That is a second charge then the drinking. But, the fine may be lighter.

There are reasons the laws are there....and have not changed. I do strongly opion, that if kids can serve the country they can drink then.....BUT equally I think an 18 yr old is far too young to serve our country. THey are just kids...
There may be some officers the use digression in different ways. My first contact with the kids, I did a disorderly conduct and had community service. During this interaction, they had a touch of the court system, and the attorneys and courts really packed home what could have happened in the system and to their life.

A child’s life is too precious. I think this thread hit me because of what I saw, too many kids and I still see everyone of them...and their parents.

What is it in life that kids have to take a risk for a high?

 

[disneymarie]

When I was dorming I remember we were warned by the RAs that if we were at a party in a dorm/campus apartment and underage and DID NOT have alcohol in our system we could still be kicked out of school or out of the dorms if caught.

And as a a PP mentioned, if you are going into education stay away from those parties. And when you ARE legal and can drink do NOT put any pics of you with alcohol in your hand, or you playing beer pong on your FB or myspace as ANYONE (future employers, parents of future students, students, etc.) can find those pics.

Good Luck!

Excellent

 

[bballmom56]

the only person who could get in serious trouble is the person hosting the party, for knowningly allowing minors to be at a party where there's drinking.

if the cops break up the party and suspect you're underage, they'll do a breathalizer and realize that you weren't drinking. you won't get introuble.

Again, definitely NOT TRUE in all states. As I stated before, Pennsylvania's constructive possession states that minors CAN be cited for possession just for being present at an uncontrolled situation like an off campus college party.

You need to know the laws where you are.

 

[mjkacmom]

They may be comfy for a Dorm, but they do not belong in a classroom someone’s parent is paying way over $10,000 a year for. It is a shame at 18 a kid has to have a dress code.
One so lazy they lived in the same Hello Kitty PJ's for a week. It was the only thing clean until winter break?????

They have parents paying for education, they do not have to get up and head into the factory or family owned buiness hrs and hrs like our parents or we did to earn a living at 18.

...

Back in the day when I went to college, lots of us girls wore boxer shorts to class - oversized (loved the 80's). Yes, my parents paid for my education, but trust me, my dad did not head out to the factory when he was 18 (although my grandfather did own one). My dad attended a private prep school, then Princeton, then Columbia. I hope my children enjoy the socialization of college, while doing well academically. It's a nice transition from childhood to adulthood, and there should be some sillyness going on.

Also, I didn't really have a choice about college. There is not a single person in my extended family who doesn't have, at least, a college degree, and most have post graduate degrees. I was going to college, and I was going away to college (I was not given the option to commute).

 

[Green Tea]

I am just inherently curious as to what institutions of higher learning are so controlling of student's personal life that they are searching out underage students that are in proximity of alcohol. Folks here repeatedly say if you go to a fraternity party you're pretty much on the road to eternal damnation and expulsion.

I am involved in university life now and I just don't see it. Colleges are supposed to open opportunities for young adults to begin independence from complete oversight. They teach and encourage students to think for themselves and make wise choices. Of course they don't turn a blind eye to drinking, nor do, I think, they are walking the campus at night with a billy club looking for a trail of bud light cans and their latest drunk student.

Colleges teach alcohol education, generally provide safe transportation for students who have been drinking. Encourage safe rides, limit their liability, keep dorms of underage students alcohol free. I have never seen universities to be the witch hunts people here are talking about.

In a perfect world of perfect young adults, maybe there would be no pushing of limits, testing independence.....but college is a time to start learning to make smart choices for yourself. I do not see their role, and I don't think they see their role, as one controlling every aspect of the student's life. Help them make smart decisions and keep them safe. University administrators have a lot more to do than peek in windows of a sorority and look for wine coolers. And in particular to arrest and expel the girl who doesn't even have a spritzer in hand.