Serving Alcohol to Minors

It is illegal for minors under the age of 21 to drink alcohol in Rhode Island. Likewise, buying alcohol
for minors or selling it to them is also illegal. Individuals who knowingly give alcohol to minors or
fail to properly check for identification can be arrested and charged. In addition, anyone who provides
liquor to a minor can be held liable for any injuries or damages that the intoxicated minor causes to
a third party or to him or herself.

The fines for serving alcohol to a minor can amount to hundreds of dollars just for a first offense,
and subsequent offenses can lead to jail time. Adults have a responsibility to verify that anyone that
asks to be served alcohol is at least 21 years old. If a person doesn’t have a valid ID that verifies
that they are of legal age, it is illegal to serve them.

Dram shop liability laws make the costs of serving a minor even more serious. If an establishment serves
liquor to a minor and the minor later injures him or herself or another individual, the establishment
or server can be held liable. The minor does not necessarily have to be intoxicated, as long as there
is evidence that alcohol was the proximate cause of the injuries or damages.

Contact Us

If you have been charged with DUI, or for serving a minor who was charged with DUI, you need an experienced
and aggressive attorney to represent you in court. For more information, contact
experienced Rhode Island DUI lawyer Matthew Marin today at 401-287-4384.