Ordinances and Statutes Relating to Youth Alcohol Abuse

The Madison Drug and Alcohol Education (MADE) Coalition, in conjunction with the Madison Department of Police Services, would like town residents to be aware of the following sections of Madison Town Ordinances and the Connecticut General Statutes as they relate to keeping our youth safe and drug and alcohol free:

1. Town Ordinance 4-2 (Alcoholic Beverages) Consumption on public, quasi public property - It shall be unlawful for any person to consume any alcoholic beverage upon or within the following described public premises within the town: (1) Land and buildings owned by the town; (2) public highways and sidewalks; (3) Quasi public property (any outdoor area adjacent to a place of business, which area is open to and customarily used by the public).

2. Town Ordinance 4-3 (Alcoholic Beverages) Possession by a Minor. Possession of Alcoholic Liquor Restricted. No person under the age of 21 shall possess any container of alcoholic liquor whether opened or unopened, within the town except when accompanied by or in the presence of his parent, guardian, or spouse who has attained the age of twenty-one years. The restriction shall apply to both public and private property. Hosting an Event or Gathering Restricted. No person shall host an event or gathering at which alcoholic liquor is consumed by or dispensed to any person who has not attained the age of 21 years unless such person who has not is accompanied by a guardian, or spouse who has attained the age of 21 years. This prohibition shall apply to any event or gathering within the town whether conducted on public or private property. NOTE: Host shall mean to organize a gathering of two or more persons, or to allow the premises under one's control to be used with one's knowledge for a gathering of two or more persons, for personal, social, or business interactions.

3. Motor Vehicle Code 14-111a Possession of alcoholic liquors in motor vehicle by underage person. Any person under the legal drinking age operating a motor vehicle, unless accompanied by his parent or guardian, in which a police officer finds alcoholic liquor may be summoned (Motor Vehicle Warning Ticket) by such officer to appear at a hearing before the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to show cause why his operator's license should not be revoked. If at such hearing, the commissioner or his agent finds that such person knew or had reason to know that alcoholic liquor was in such motor vehicle, he may revoke the operator's license of such person for a period not exceeding 60 days.

4. Motor Vehicle Code 14-227g Operation by person under 21 years of age while blood alcohol content exceeds two-hundredths of one percent. No person under 21 years of age shall operate a motor vehicle while the ratio of alcohol in the blood of such person is two-hundredths of one percent or more of alcohol by weight. (NOTE - The DUI standard for an elevated B.A.C. is eight hundredths of one per cent or more of alcohol by weight for most drivers over the age of 21).

5. Liquor Control Act 30-86(b) Sale or delivery to minors intoxicated persons, and habitual drunkards. (1) Any permittee/servant/agent of a permittee who sells, gives, or delivers an alcoholic beverage to a minor or any intoxicated person, or to any habitual drunkard shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than one year. (2) Any person who ships, delivers or gives alcoholic liquor to a minor by any means including, but not limited to, the Internet or other on-line computer network, except on the order of a practicing physician, shall be fined not more than $1,500 or imprisoned not more than 18 months.

6. Liquor Control Act 30-87 Inducing Minors to procure Liquor. Any person who induces any minor to procure alcoholic liquor from any person permitted to sell such alcoholic liquor (does not apply to employees of permit holders made in the course of business) is part of official investigation or enforcement activity shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year or both.

7. Liquor Control Act 30-88a Misrepresentation of age to Procure Liquor. Any person who, for the purpose of procuring alcoholic liquor, misrepresents his or her age or uses or exhibits an operator's license belonging to any other person shall be fined not less than $200 or more than $500 or be imprisoned for not more than 30 or both.

8. Liquor Control Act 30-89(a) Any person to whom the sale of alcoholic liquor is by law forbidden who purchases or attempts to purchase such liquor or who makes any false statement for the purpose of procuring such liquor shall be fined not less than $200 or more than $500.

9. Liquor Control Act 30-89(b) Any minor who possesses any alcoholic liquor [1] on any public street or highway or [2] in any other public or private location shall, for a first offense have committed an infraction ($136.00 mail-in fine) and for any subsequent offense, be fined not less than $200 or more than $500.

10. Liquor Control Act 30-89a (a) Permitting Minor to illegally possess liquor in dwelling or on private property or failing to halt such illegal possession. No person having possession of, or exercising control over any dwelling unit or private property shall [1] knowingly permit any minor to possess alcoholic liquor in violation of subsection (b) of 30-89 in such dwelling unit or on such private property or [2] knowing that any such minor possesses alcoholic liquor in violation of subsection (b) of 30-89 in such dwelling unit or on such private property fail to make reasonable efforts to halt such possession. For the purposes of this subsection "minor" means a person under 21 years of age. Any person who violates the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall,

for a first offense, have committed an infraction ($136 mail-in fine) and for any subsequent offense be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.