At the Law Offices of Ronald J. Shook, our firm is led by an experienced attorney who handles a range of criminal defense matters, including underage drinking violations. Mr. Shook personally manages each case, and our entire firm works hard to help ensure that your rights are protected and your best interests served.

If you have been suspected of underage drinking or alcohol possession, do not talk to police. Talk to your attorney first. Contact our Gastonia firm to arrange a consultation.

Underage alcohol, underage drinking and driving and license violations

We often hear: “I got an underage drinking ticket; I can just pay it, right? That’s what my friends did!”

Can you just pay it? Perhaps. And then you too will have a criminal record, just like your friends. That criminal record will follow you forever and can impact your ability to get into a college or postgraduate program, and getting a job.

We also hear: “The officer told me to go to classes and it will go off my record!”

The officer has no authority to make that deal, only the district attorney or judge can dismiss a case. Because you take some classes doesn’t mean the case will get dismissed, and it may not go off your record and it will foreclose options that you may need to keep open in the future.

Teens and college students are often peer pressured into drinking, just to go along with the crowd. What the crowd may not realize is that underage drinking and/or getting behind the wheel of a car can have consequences that can devastate for a long time. A conviction may be left on your record forever, you may be facing a suspended or revoked license until you turn 21, and jail time and fines are always possible punishments for underage alcohol possession and/or consumption. You may also incur points that affect your license and insurance, if the license is not taken away completely. It is important that you turn to a lawyer who is experienced and trustworthy in order to take these charges head on and fight for your rights.

Underage violations and Driver’s License Suspension:

If you are convicted of using a fake ID to enter a bar or club, using a fake ID to purchase alcohol or allowing another to use your ID to purchase alcohol or if you are convicted of helping another obtain alcohol or giving alcohol to an underage person.

In North Carolina, a driver under the age of 21 cannot have any alcohol in their system while driving. If you are suspected of DWI/drunk driving or underage alcohol possession/consumption, you may be subjected to an Alco-Sensor or Intox EC/IR-II test. Regardless of your blood alcohol content (BAC), you may be facing criminal charges as a result of your age and illegal consumption of alcohol.

In addition to underage drinking, we handle other specific types of underage charges related to drinking, including:

• Driving by person less than 21 years of age after consuming alcohol (also known as Driving after Consuming being Under 21, underage DWI/DUI/drinking and driving) NCGS 20-138.3
• Sale or purchase by underage persons (NCGS 18B-302)
• Using fake identification (NCGS 18B-302)

Call 704-671-2390 or email our Gastonia office to schedule a consultation with our lawyer to further discuss your underage drinking violation or other underage charges.