Many teenagers may not see any harm with consuming alcohol, as long as they're not driving while intoxicated. But California law has strict consequences for those who choose to drink under the age of 21. If caught by authorities, underage drinkers should contact a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer right away, so that they can learn about what legal rights they have.
If a law enforcement officer sees a minor holding an object that contains alcohol or catches a minor in the act of drinking, the officer can cite that individual for being a "minor in possession."
A minor in possession conviction, otherwise known as an MIP, can result in a misdemeanor on an individual's permanent criminal record. With an MIP, a person's driver's license is usually suspended for one year, even if the offender was not operating a vehicle at the time of arrest.
In addition to the harsh legal consequences of consuming alcohol under the age of 21, there are many dangers and harmful effects that are associated with teenage drinking. One extreme case is what happened to a South Pasadena boy last weekend.
Aydin Salek would have turned 18 years old yesterday, but on Saturday night he consumed too much alcohol at a party. He died of an alcohol overdose that same night. When his friend noticed he wasn't breathing, he was given CPR by the 18 year old boy, but was not taken to a hospital right away. After CPR failed, he called 911, and an emergency crew came to the scene, but by that point it was too late.
While many at South Pasadena High School have expressed sadness and grief over Salek's death, there is a lot of unspoken words about the dangers of drinking too much alcohol. Perhaps students his own age can learn about the consequences of underage drinking from his story.
- Pasadena Student Died of Suspected Alcohol Overdose (Los Angeles Times)
- California Minor in Possession Law Explained (Southern California Defense Blog)
- Drug Possession (FindLaw)
