Underage Drinking
Drinking when you’re under 21 or providing alcohol to a minor comes with consequences. We want you to be aware of underage drinking laws in Texas so that you can make safe and smart choices.
Penalties
Underage Drinking
If you’re a minor who buys, attempts to buy, possesses or drinks alcoholic beverages — or if you’re intoxicated in public or misrepresent your age to get alcohol — you’ll face the following consequences:
- Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500
- Attendance of an alcohol awareness class
- 8 to 40 hours community service
- 30- to 180-day loss or denial of driver's license
If you’re 17 or older and this is your third offense, it’s punishable by a fine of $250 to $2,000, jail confinement for up to 180 days or both, as well as automatic driver's license suspension.
A minor with previous alcohol-related convictions will have their driver's license suspended for one year if they do not attend alcohol awareness training required by the judge.
Providing Alcohol to a Minor
Adults and minors who give alcohol to a minor also face stiff penalties. This includes the following:
- Making alcoholic beverages available to a minor is a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $4,000, confinement in jail for up to a year or both. Your driver´s license would also be automatically suspended for 180 days when they are convicted.
- Anybody 21 or older (other than the parent or guardian) can be held liable for damages caused by intoxication of a minor under 18 if the adult knowingly provided alcoholic beverages to the minor or knowingly allowed them to be served or provided alcoholic beverages on the premises owned or leased by the adult.
- Sale to a minor is a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $4,000, confinement in jail for up to a year or both.
It is illegal for a person under 21 to operate a motor vehicle or watercraft in a public place while having any detectable amount of alcohol in their system.
- The consequences for a minor’s first offense of driving under the influence of alcohol are:
- A class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $500.
- Attendance of an alcohol awareness class.
- 20 to 40 hours of mandatory community service.
- 60-day driver's license suspension and no eligibility for an occupational license for the first 30 days.
- A second offense increases the consequences to:
- A class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $500.
- Attendance of an alcohol awareness class at the judge's discretion.
- 40 to 60 hours of mandatory community service.
- 120-day driver's license suspension and no eligibility for an occupational license for the first 90 days.
- A third offense is not eligible for deferred adjudication. The minor's driver's license is suspended for 180 days, and they may not obtain an occupational license for the entire suspension period. If the minor is 17 or older, the fine increases to $500 to $2,000, confinement in jail for up to 180 days or both.
