Per NRS 202.020, it is unlawful for a minor under 21 to buy, possess, or consume alcohol. Also, the law prohibits adults from supplying underage people with alcohol. Violating this statute attracts severe penalties, affecting a minor’s future. Unfortunately, underage drinking is like a passage rite, which explains why many teenagers face the charges. As a parent, you should know about alcohol use and what Las Vegas statutes say if you want to help your child avoid arrest for alcohol consumption or to help them exit jail if they are already in trouble with the law.

Las Vegas Legal Drinking Age

The nationwide Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) is 21. The exact age limit applies in Nevada and all the other states. With the unified MLDA, no state has to formulate its own regulations for underage drinking.

Reasons for the Nevada MLDA

Some teenagers and 20-year-olds are responsible for attending work and school and participating in community programs. However, according to the law, these people are still children because they lack the maturity and life experience to make informed decisions about alcohol consumption. It does not mean that once the 20-year-olds turn 21, they suddenly become mature and self-aware of their choices regarding alcohol possession or consumption. Nevertheless, people over the age of 21 are at a lower risk of making bad alcohol-related decisions.

Nevada Underage Alcohol Possession Statutes

According to NRS 202.020, it is unlawful for a person under 21 to buy or drink an alcoholic beverage in any location where it is being sold or to possess alcohol in public. However, there are exceptional cases where the law permits minors to drink or keep alcohol. These are:

  • Drinking or having alcohol for religious reasons, like during a Sunday mass or a Passover seder.
  • Alcohol consumption or possession in the presence of a parent, spouse, or lawful custodian who is older than 21.
  • Alcohol consumption or possession as a controlled substance administered by a physician.
  • Alcohol possession in a private business building or club.
  • Alcohol possession at work when under lawful employment by an alcohol maker.

Therefore, it is not every time that your teenager is found drinking or in possession of alcohol that they will face criminal charges. Under unique circumstances, consumption is lawful. Therefore, what happens to your underage child when they drink alcohol depends on whether they are apprehended. The police will arrest your child for underage drinking if they are intoxicated, carrying, or consuming alcohol in public.

Therefore, if you want to protect your teenager from an arrest and subsequent charges, it is essential to discuss these regulations before they find themselves on the wrong side of the law and to avoid the consequences of a criminal charge and possible conviction.

Underage drinking, possession, or buying of alcoholic beverages in public is a misdemeanor offense that attracts at most half a year in jail or financial court fines not exceeding $1,000. The punishment is for minors older than 18 but younger than 21.

However, when the juvenile is under 18, their case is handled in juvenile court. If the judge sustains the petition filed against your child for underage drinking, they will face:

  • At most, six months of juvenile detention.
  • A court-imposed fine not exceeding $1,000.
  • An alcohol or substance evaluation to establish whether the delinquent has an addiction.
  • Mandatory rehabilitation if the findings of the review indicate the minor is addicted to alcohol.
  • Withdrawal of the minor’s driving privileges for nine to twenty-four months.

Whether you are a parent to a younger adult or a minor who faces an arrest or charges for underage drinking, you should speed up their pretrial discharge pending case adjudication. When the minor is released early, you will have adequate time to hire a private attorney or juvenile lawyer to help prepare the best defenses to prevent a conviction and harsh penalties.

Pretrial Release After an Underage Drinking Charge

If your minor is being tried in juvenile court, you will not need to post bail for their pretrial discharge. All you need is to find them a good lawyer to convince the court not to detain them in the juvenile hall and instead allow them to go home. However, when a young adult is charged in an adult criminal court, they must post bail to obtain freedom.

Bail refers to the funds an arrestee or defendant deposits with the court to guarantee release while the case is ongoing. The money is not a punishment for the crime but an insurance policy. The two primary forms of bail are cash and bail bonds. Cash bail requires that the arrestee pay the full bail figure upfront. Unfortunately, most arrestees, particularly young adults, do not have the funds to pay bail upfront. If your underage lacks the funds for cash bail, you are the person to finance their discharge as a parent or guardian.

Consolidating bail funds quickly can strain you and your family, especially when the amount is hefty. Thankfully, bail bond companies exist to help individuals in your situation with loved ones behind bars who cannot afford to pay cash bail for their discharge. These bondmen offer financial support in exchange for a premium. It is hugely stressful when your child is behind bars, but you cannot afford the funds for their pretrial discharge. If you find yourself in this situation, it is time to contact a bondsman.

All you need is to have a fee for the surety bond service. The figure is usually 15% of the total bail. You only need to raise this fraction of the bail and contact your surety bond company of choice. The bondsman assigned to your case will need your child’s name, the offense they are accused of, and the name of the jail where they are detained. Also, they will need your information before you can co-sign the bond. If the fee is still too expensive for you to afford, they will arrange a flexible repayment plan based on your financial situation.

Once you sign the agreement, a bondsman will go to the jail where the underage person is detained and post bail. After the teenager is discharged, you will be responsible for their court appearances and adherence to court instructions. If the child skips court, the court will issue an arrest warrant, and this time around, your minor could be denied bail and stay in jail until the case closes.

Find a Competent Bail Bonds Service Near Me

If you learn of your minor's arrest for underage drinking in Las Vegas, do not hesitate to contact Express Bail Bonds. Our bondmen will facilitate a prompt pretrial discharge and save you money by hiring an experienced criminal defense lawyer to represent them in criminal proceedings and the trial for a fair outcome. Call us today at 702-633-2245 to commence the release process pending trial.