Can I get in trouble from
 

being around underage drinkers? I'm 21 and occationally I'll be at a party with some 18-20 year olds drinking, so long as I'm not the one serving alcohol I wouldn't get in trouble would I? I live in Arizona if that makes a difference.

And while I'm at it, not that this has happened in a long time, but what if people are doing drugs at a party, can I get in trouble from association?

You know me, I am a prude and would avoid both situations like I would avoid a lover with leprosy.

I dunno what the laws are in your area but better safe than sorry!

If you are the host, or if you are the only one over 21, or if the minors say you bought the booze, then yeah you're gonna end up takin the heat for it. As far as the drugs go pretty much the same thing, if you're the host, supplier, or it's said that you're the supplier, it's gonna be hard to get out of.

You can get a ticket for failing to signal for 100 feet.


Really, you can get a ticket for just about anything. Always keep in mind that if the police WANT to, they can arrest you for something.

Realistically? No. The possibility is always there, and it certainly goes up if there are illegal drugs, but I don't see it happening. I've heard it threatened but never enforced, at least here.

Is there something specific your concerned about?

The best answer is that this would depend on the situation. If the minor were under 16, you might be charged with contributing. If the party were disruptive you might be charged with disorderly conduct, public consumption, a variety of things.

Best to just stay away from places where the law is being broken.

Depends on the state you live in. My husband told me that he was on leave from the Navy and was invited to a local party. He arrived and it was a young crowd. The Police arrived and hubby was the only one of legal age. The kids were scattered and hubby was taken to jail for aiding and abetting the delinquency of a minor. Somebody must have bought the booze, right?

The charge was dismissed, but why would you want to spend a night in jail for hanging out with kids that are drinking?

It makes me so happy to see people helping another TFP-er!

It really does make me feel good inside. :)

You "could" but odds are that you won't. It doesn't sound like you are breaking the law, but that doesn't mean you are 100% safe. Hell, I've seen cops beating the shit out of people whose only crime was to be near other people who irritating the cops.

<<clavus wishes to remind everybody that he belives most cops are NOT abusive assholes>>

21? damn! it's 19 here. we get drunk at 18. sometimes before.

In AZ the host of the party is treated on the same level as a bartender in a bar. You are responsible for the enforcement of the drinking age as well as other things like cutting off people who have had too much, and ensuring a safe means of travelling home.

Also as the host, if you live in Tempe AZ (ASU's location), there is a strict party enforcement. If the police are called to break up a party due to complaints, a warning citation will be issued. If they are called to the same address with a party/noise complaint within the span of 90 days, the owner of the property will recieve a minimum fine of $1000. (If you're renting, you will have a very pissed off landlord.)

If you're not the host of the party, and it's not at your address. Then as long as it is not proven that you supplied the alcohol, you should have nothing to worry about provided nobody at the party is under 16. If someone is under 16, you can be charged with contributing to the delinquincy of a minor.

Thanks for the info.

The immediate problem just evaporated so hopfully I wont run into it again.

I was at a party last saturday (I live in Boulder, Colorado), and there were about 300 people. I think all of them were over 18, but a large portion was under 21. I am almost sure, however, that most people were drunk, and/or intoxicated on something else.

Well, it was going nicely, until some jerks went outside and starting screaming and causing general disturbance on the neighbours' front lawns.

The cops came, of course, and I was in the "lobby" of the house, so I decided to go talk to the lady-cop to calm things down while other people went looking in the backyard crowd for the guy responsible (the host, who is over 21) for the house.

Well the cops actually entered the house without anyone telling them they could (the door was open, and before I could say anything, they stepped in), and at that point I didn't know what to say to them (partly because i was tipsy myself).
I was wondering, aren't cops required to stay outside unless given permission to do otherwise by either the owner of the house, or a warrant?
I didn't ask them to stay outside, because they were asking me for ID (I didn't have it on me) and I was afraid of being arrested for some reason.
In the end, the owner broke up the party (which I totally understand), and everyone went home. The cop had asked me for my age and DOB, and by fear and stupidity, I gave her a fake last name.
But is there anything I could have/should have done? Should I have told them to go outside? If I did, would i putting myself at risk of being arrested, even though I was being civil? Can they tell me that since, I'm not the owner of the house, I'm not in right to ask them to wait outside?

Sorry for this sort of threadjack, but I'm also curious about that specific situation (drunk under-21 year olds)