UNDER 21 – COMMON ALCOHOL-RELATED CHARGES (EXCLUDING DUI)
PURCHASING AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE
BY A PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 21
(Applicable Georgia laws: O.C.G.A. §§ 3-3-23(a)(2)(B); 40-5-57.1)
If you are under 21 years of age and you are charged with purchasing an alcoholic beverage, upon conviction you will face the following drivers license penalties:
- First Conviction – You will face a 6-month license suspension and there is NO LIMITED DRIVING PERMIT privilege during the period of suspension. SPECIAL NOTE: A plea of NOLO CONTENDERE will be treated as a CONVICTION AND WILL CAUSE YOUR LICENSE TO BE SUSPENDED.
- Second Conviction – You will face a 12-month license suspension and there is NO LIMITED DRIVING PERMIT privilege during the period of suspension. SPECIAL NOTE: A plea of NOLO CONTENDERE will be treated as a CONVICTION AND WILL CAUSE YOUR LICENSE TO BE SUSPENDED.
ATTEMPTING TO PURCHASE AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE
BY A PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 21
(Applicable Georgia laws: O.C.G.A. §§ 3-3-23.1(b)(3); 40-5-63)
If you are under 21 years of age and you are charged with attempting to purchase an alcoholic beverage, upon conviction you will face the following drivers license penalties:
- First Conviction – You will face a 6-month license suspension and there is NO LIMITED DRIVING PERMIT privilege during the period of suspension. SPECIAL NOTE: A plea of NOLO CONTENDERE may be accepted in the Court’s discretion, and this plea will not cause a license suspension.
- Second Conviction – You will face a 12-month license suspension and there is NO LIMITED DRIVING PERMIT privilege during the period of suspension. SPECIAL NOTE: A plea of NOLO CONTENDERE will be treated as a CONVICTION AND WILL CAUSE YOUR LICENSE TO BE SUSPENDED.
POSSESSION OF AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE BY A PERSON UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE (Applicable Georgia laws: O.C.G.A. §40-5-63(e))
If you are under 21 years of age and you are charged with possessing an alcoholic beverage while operating a motor vehicle, upon conviction you will face the following driver’s license penalties:
- Upon conviction of this charge, you will face a 120-day license suspension and there is NO LIMITED DRIVING PERMIT privilege during the period of suspension. SPECIAL NOTE: A plea of NOLO CONTENDERE may be accepted in the Court’s discretion, and this plea will not cause a license suspension.
POSSESSION OF AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE BY A PERSON UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE (Applicable Georgia laws: O.C.G.A. §§ 3-3-23(a)(2); 3-3-23.1(f))
If you are under 21 years of age and you are charged with possessing an alcoholic beverage, upon conviction you will face the following drivers license penalties IF THE OFFENSE IS REPORTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DRIVER SERVICES:
- Upon conviction of this charge, you will face a 120-day license suspension and there is NO LIMITED DRIVING PERMIT privilege during the period of suspension. SPECIAL NOTE: A plea of NOLO CONTENDERE may be accepted in the Court’s discretion, and this plea will not cause a license suspension.
- If you are under 21 years of age and you are charged with possessing an alcoholic beverage and you were not operating a motor vehicle at the time of the offense, the offense should not be reported to the Department of Driver Services and, therefore, should not result in a license suspension. However, if the charge is reported to the Department of Driver Services, the Department will presume that the offense was committed while in the operation of a motor vehicle and will suspend your license.
MISREPRESENTING AGE OR IDENTITY TO OBTAIN ALCOHOL,
OR USING FALSE IDENTIFICATION TO PURCHASE ALCOHOL
(Applicable Georgia laws: O.C.G.A. §§ 3-3-23(a)(3), 3-3-23(a)(5), and 40-5-57.1)
If you are misrepresenting your age or identity to obtain alcohol, or using false identification to purchase alcohol, upon conviction you will face the following drivers license penalties:
- First Conviction – You will face a 6-month license suspension and there is NO LIMITED DRIVING PERMIT privilege during the period of suspension. SPECIAL NOTE: A plea of NOLO CONTENDERE will be treated as a CONVICTION AND WILL CAUSE YOUR LICENSE TO BE SUSPENDED.
- Second Conviction – You will face a 12-month license suspension and there is NO LIMITED DRIVING PERMIT privilege during the period of suspension. SPECIAL NOTE: A plea of NOLO CONTENDERE will be treated as a CONVICTION AND WILL CAUSE YOUR LICENSE TO BE SUSPENDED.
If you are under the age of 21 and face a DUI charge, you face a charge that could and, most likely will, affect you well into the immediate future. Beyond the driver's license consequences discussed above, you face the potential of very harsh financial penalties (such as increased insurance rates, lower credit ratings, and loss of employment opportunities).
Contact our office today to schedule a FREE IN-PERSON CONSULTATION to discuss your case and how we can defend you against these charges.