LAWS & PENALTIES

Minor in Possession

You are under the age of 21 and you have alcohol in your possession. In MO, a minor with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level higher than .02% can result in “Possession by Consumption”.  The Liquor Control Law for the State of Missouri (311 RSMo.) provides that any person under the age of 21 years who purchases, attempts to purchase or has in his/her possession any intoxicating liquor is guilty of a misdemeanor (311.325 RSMo).

• Misdemeanor – Up to 90 DAYS in prison / $500 fine

Distribution of Alcohol to a Minor

Any individual (even someone under the age of 21) who buys beer for someone under the age of 21 or provide alcohol to someone under the age of 21. Also includes minors drinking at a party you a hosting.  Anyone who shall procure for, sell, give away or otherwise supply intoxicating liquor to any person under the age of twenty-one years is guilty of a misdemeanor (311.310 RSMo).

• Misdemeanor – Up to 1 YR in prison / 12 month probation / $1000 fine

If distribution is a repeat offense or if the minor supplied alcohol sustains injury involved with the use of alcohol.

• Felony – 5 to 15 YRS in prison / Fines range based upon injuries and court costs, but can exceed $50,000

Selling Alcohol Without a License

You charge money for guests to drink alcohol at your party.  Example:  You have a party and charge $2 for a cup at the door. Reference (311.310 RSMo).

• Up to 90 DAYS in prison / $500 fine

Fake ID

You try to use a fake ID to gain entry into a bar or purchase alcohol in licensed venue. You possess a fake ID, an altered ID, or the ID of someone who is 21 years of age or above. Reference (311.320 RSMo).

• Misdemeanor – Up to $500 fine

If you personally altered or reproduced the fake ID.

• Misdemeanor – Up to 1 YR in prison / $1,000 fine

Forgery of an identity document in the state of MO.

Felony – Up to 7 YRS in prison / $5000 fine

Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) (RSMo. 577)

You are under 21 and operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .02 or higher. A person commits the crime of "driving while intoxicated" if he/she operates a motor vehicle while in an intoxicated or drugged condition (577.010.1 RSMo.). A person is in an "intoxicated condition" when he/she is under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, or drug, or any combination thereof (577.001 RSMo).

• Misdemeanor - Administrative suspension or revocation of driver’s license for at least 30 days / $5000 fine

You are 21 or older, consume alcohol, and choose to drive a vehicle. Your driving is impaired and/or your BAC is .08 or above.

• Misdemeanor – Up to 90 DAYS in prison / $500 fine / Mandatory substance-abuse classes, legal fees, court costs, and increased insurance estimated for an estimated grand total of $5000

Refusal to Take Blood Alcohol Test

Missouri law specifies that if you are driving a vehicle, you have given consent to submit to a chemical test for determining the amount of alcohol in your blood (577.020 RSMo). Refusal to take a test could result in the suspension of your license for one year (577.041 RSMo).

Nuisance Party

You choose to have a party with 10 or more persons on a residential property where there is a peace disturbance, alcohol violations, fighting, drugs, public urination or other violations, see local ordinance for details. All tenants can be held responsible and be arrested.

• 1^st offense: Up to 3 MONTHS in prison / $500.00 / Potential for Eviction
• 2^nd offense: Up to 3 MONTHS in prison / $1000.00 / Potential for Eviction

Open Container / Drinking in Public

You walk on a sidewalk, street, or in a city parking facility with an open container (cup, bottle, or can) of an alcoholic beverage. Driving with an open container.

* MO does not have an open container law, however Rolla ordinance states is shall be unlawful for any person to drink, expose, or display any beer or alcoholic liquors in open containers upon the public streets or within any public place of the city; provided, however, that this shall not apply to public places legally licensed and where such drinking is permitted. Exceptions to this section may be granted by City Administration on a case-by-case basis.

• Up to 6 MONTHS in prison / $500 fine

Missouri Drug Laws

The manufacturing, possession, sale, distribution and use of illicit drugs (i.e. controlled substance or imitation controlled substance) are prohibited by state law (195 RSMo.). Penalties for first time offense for a drug possession violation can range from a fine of $1,000 to life imprisonment. Other prohibited acts include possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia and advertising the sale of drug paraphernalia. The tables below give information on penalties and fines for specific drug crimes in Missouri (see 195.010 RSMo for definitions and 195.017 RSMo for the scheduling information of controlled substances in Missouri).

CAREER IMPLICATIONS

Student "success" is more than earning a sufficient grade point average to graduate. It is making progress on educational, interpersonal, career, and health, development, and taking advantage of the services and resources to promote growth and development for maximum potential and career readiness.  All of these developmental issues are relevant to alcohol misuse and should not be ignored as we consider campus alcohol policies and practices.

Students who consume alcohol at heavy episodic drinking levels are more likely to experience academic problems such as poor class attendance and inability to focus, and thus earn lower grades.  In a recent study on the impact of college alcohol consumption on employment, data show that each episode of heavy episodic drinking was associated with a 1.4% reduction in the odds of being employed full-time upon graduation. 

To put this in perspective, a student that reports consuming at the sample mean of 6.55 times a month (i.e., on 1 or 2 weekend days per week) has a roughly 10% lower odds of being employed full-time upon graduation.

Even if a student only engages in heavy episodic drinking on a weekly basis (i.e., four times per month), their odds of full-time employment upon graduation is roughly 6% lower than those who do not engage in high risk consumption.  How often students consume at heavy episodic levels may be more influential in predicting employment upon graduation than how much they generally consume.