From Celebrations to Citations: Ohio Parents, Teens and Liquor Permit Holders Reminded to Exercise Responsibility During Prom & Graduation Parties

As we approach the prom and graduation season, the Ohio Investigative Unit (OIU) and the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Liquor Control (DOLC) remind high school students and their parents to make safe, responsible and legal choices as they plan celebrations.

First and foremost, it’s important that parents and teens both understand Ohio’s underage drinking laws.

Parents should not host or provide their house or elsewhere a “safe environment” for their child’s friends to drink. This prohibition applies even if the other parents provide permission. If convicted of selling or providing alcohol to an underage person, the seller can face a maximum sentence of six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine for each offense.

In addition, if someone under 21 is caught driving with a blood alcohol concentration of at least .02%, a level that can be reached after just one or two drinks, they can be arrested. Those individuals could face a 90-day to two-year suspension of their driver license as well as four points added to their driving record. All drivers should know it’s illegal to have an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.

Carry-outs and drivethrough establishments are urged to be on alert for underage individuals attempting to purchase alcohol. The DOLC reminds permit holders and liquor agency stores of their responsibility to ensure they aren’t selling to or serving anyone under the age of 21.

“The quick buck that can be made by selling to an underage individual is not worth it; liquor permit holders have a legal obligation to ensure those under the legal drinking age are not served alcohol,” said Paul Kulwinski, DOLC Interim Superintendent and

Director of Licensing. “Not only does serving alcohol to underage persons jeopardize their liquor permit, it also could result in criminal charges brought against both the person who made the sale as well as the underage person who made the purchase. Aside from the legal consequences, it’s critically important that permit holders understand they are putting the underage person’s safety – and possibly life – at risk by engaging in this activity.”

The best way to prevent underage sales is for liquor permit holders and agency stores and their staff to thoroughly check the identification of all young people attempting to purchase alcoholic beverages. They should always ask for a photo ID and carefully compare it to the person seeking to make a purchase. If a photo ID can’t be provided, or if it’s not clear the ID belongs to the person who presented it, the sale should be refused.

In addition, OIU agents recommend limo companies review policies with their drivers to ensure they understand they could be charged with permitting underage consumption if alcohol is consumed by underage individuals in their vehicles.

“We can stop senseless tragedies associated with irresponsible and illegal underage alcohol consumption. Everyone must work together to eliminate opportunities for underage individuals to purchase and consume alcohol,” OIU Senior Enforcement Commander Erik Lockhart said.

Ohioans who have information about a bar, store or carry-out selling beer or liquor to individuals under the age of 21, or about an underage house party, should notify the Ohio Investigative Unit by calling #677 on their cell phone to have their complaint investigated.