Furnishing Alcohol to Minors at Penn State

Experienced Criminal Defense Attorneys Serving Penn State Students Since 2004

At JD Law, our attorneys have been defending Penn State students facing Underage Drinking and Furnishing Alcohol to Minors charges for over two decades. These offenses may seem like minor “rites of passage” for college students, but they are serious criminal charges with potentially long-term consequences and penalties.

How Furnishing Alcohol to Minors Charges Commonly Arise

Many Furnishing Alcohol to Minors cases originate from undercover police surveillance near local liquor stores and distributors, often the Hamilton Square in State College. At these establishments, only people over 21 are permitted to enter. Officers sit in the parking lot and watch for cars with people that do not enter the business, often the driver. The police suspect that the person is under 21, which is why they remained in the car. The purchaser of the alcohol returns to the car, and the vehicle leaves. The police follow. The police watch the purchaser exit the vehicle without taking all of the alcohol. At that point, the purchaser has relinquished possession and thereby furnished the alcohol to the driver. The police then stop the driver and the purchaser. If the driver is under 21, the police may issue a citation for Possession of Alcohol by a Minor, and the purchaser is charged misdemeanor offenses for Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor.

Why These Charges Matter: Real Criminal Consequences

Although some view underage drinking and furnishing alcohol as typical college behavior, these are criminal offenses in Pennsylvania. A conviction for Furnishing Alcohol to Minors (18 Pa.C.S. § 6310.1) is a misdemeanor, requiring fingerprinting, a mugshot, and a permanent criminal record unless properly addressed.

Consequences of a Furnishing conviction may include:

Avoiding a Criminal Record?

The good news is that many Penn State students charged with Furnishing Alcohol to Minors may qualify for Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD)—a pretrial diversion program that can help avoid a conviction. Successful completion of ARD allows for the charges to be dismissed AND then expunged. A dismissal does NOT result in the destruction or removal of records. A person must go through the expungement process to clear up the records. An expunged record will not appear on background search reports because records of the incident no longer exist.

What Should You Do Next? Contact JD Law Today

If you or a loved one have been charged with Furnishing Alcohol to Minors, Underage Drinking, or another alcohol-related offense near Penn State, don’t wait. These charges can have lasting effects, and early intervention is critical.  Get a free case review from an experienced State College criminal defense attorney.

👉 Contact JD Law online via email or call (814) 689-9139 and leave a message.  Email is preferred.

📘 Visit our PA Furnishing Alcohol to Minor FAQ Page for clear answers to these and other frequently asked questions.