Federal and State Laws Regarding Alcohol

Penalties for violations of law may involve serious fines, probation, jail time and forfeiture of a driver’s license. Below is a brief synopsis of the current state alcohol code (Official Code of Georgia Title 3), including penalties associated with violations:

• Possession or use of alcoholic beverages by persons under 21 years of age, or distribution of alcoholic beverages to persons under 21 years of age, is prohibited.
• Furnishing alcoholic beverages to persons who are under 21 years of age or noticeably intoxicated is prohibited.
• It is prohibited for any person under 21 years of age to misrepresent his or her identity or use any false identification for the purpose of purchasing or obtaining any alcoholic beverage.
• The sale of alcoholic beverages without a license is prohibited. The sale of wine or malt beverages within 100 yards of a college campus, and the sale of distilled spirits within 200 yards of a college campus in the state of Georgia is also prohibited, regardless of the existence of a license; provided, however, that licensees selling alcohol only for on- premises consumption near college campuses are regulated by local law. “Sale” includes charging admission to any activity where alcoholic beverages are served, even if the beverage is “free” to those who have gained admission.
• Public intoxication and possession of an open container of an alcoholic beverage in the passenger area of a vehicle are both prohibited in the state of Georgia. In addition, the College prohibits possession of an open container of an alcoholic beverage on campus other than as expressly provided for in the Alcohol Policy.