Ohio maintains a zero tolerance policy toward underage drinking. This means that if you are under the age of 21 years old, and you are caught drinking, or in possession of alcohol, or drinking and driving, there will be penalties.
Sometimes this penalty might be an underage drinking citation. It could involve fines, alcohol education, and more. However, this all depends on the crime at hand.
Let’s say that you were under the age of 21, and you had one beer at a friend’s house. You drove, because you didn’t think you were “drunk.” Having one drink and being drunk are two different things, of course, but they both qualify for a drunk driving charge if you are pulled over and your BAC is .02 or above as an underage.
An underage DUI like adult DUIs, will remain on your juvenile record and can be used to enhance subsequent DUI charges, so make sure you get help immediately.
This life-changing penalty is not something that you should take lightly.
To learn more about this, please see these helpful pages on our website:
- Do I need a lawyer for my first drinking and driving offense?
- How long does a DUI stay on your record in Cincinnati?
- Cincinnati DUI Guide
