Polk County is considered a central Florida location and has several colleges and universities in the area to boot. The fall season is upon us and students are heading into the classroom. Experiencing the high school and college lifestyle is an important rite of passage for young people. However, with all of the changes and excitement that young life brings, so does the opportunity for poor choices.
Underage drinking is on the rise for young people. In the State of Florida, the legal age for alcohol consumption is 21 years old. However, Florida statistics for underage drinkers is the twelfth highest in the nation. In 2005, reports show that Florida possessed 647,000 drinkers who were not of legal age.
The rise in underage drinking can also be related to additional socioeconomic problems, such as pregnancy, violence, drug use and criminal behavior. Minors who consume alcohol between the ages of 12-20 years old are two and half times more likely to develop an alcohol dependency later in life. Around 10% of the admissions to Florida substance rehabilitation clinics are under the legal age.
Alcohol consumption by a person under the age of 21, the sale of alcohol to an individual under the age of 21 and the possession of alcohol under the age of 21 are just some of the Florida underage alcohol related criminal offenses. I understand that peer pressure, the desire for excitement and the willingness to try new things can influence a minor's decision making. These decisions may seem well intended at the time, but may have criminal consequences.
However, the State of Florida has developed a diversion program for defendants facing their first criminal offense. Around two thirds of the offenders entered into this program have been arrested on underage drinking charges. The program addresses real life issues with the attendees and provides an education in smart decision making. After the diversion program has been successfully completed by the offender, the State normally drops all charges and waives any further prosecution. This can be a win, win scenario for all those involved.
Please understand that entry into a diversion program is not an automatic process for the accused. You need an aggressive attorney to successfully negotiate your involvement with this program. I have handled countless underage, alcohol related cases. I understand what it takes to arrange alternative sentencing for my clients. If you or a family member has been charged with underage drinking, contact an experienced criminal attorney for help with your case. It may mean the difference between graduating with a criminal conviction or a clean record.
