What are the penalties for Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor?

Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor and Underage Drinking Charges in State College

Underage Drinking and Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor often go hand-in-hand—much like peanut butter and jelly. However, the legal consequences are far from equal. In Pennsylvania, a person who provides or purchases alcohol for a minor typically faces more serious penalties than the minor who consumes it.

Underage Drinking is classified as a summary offense. In contrast, Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor is a misdemeanor offense, which carries more significant legal and long-term consequences. A misdemeanor charge means the individual must be fingerprinted and photographed, and the charge is reported to both the Pennsylvania State Police and the FBI—creating a permanent criminal record unless the case is later expunged.

While a conviction for Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor isn’t necessarily life-ruining, it’s common sense that any criminal record can negatively impact employment opportunities, internships, and graduate school applications. For Penn State students, these charges may also trigger disciplinary action under the University’s Code of Student Conduct.

Penalties for Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor in Centre County

In Centre County, individuals suspected of furnishing alcohol to a minor are often charged with two separate offenses:

1. Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor – 18 Pa.C.S. § 6310.1

2. Unlawful Acts Relative to Liquor – 47 P.S. § 4-493

While both charges are serious, Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor charge under § 6310.1 is more difficult for prosecutors to prove and carries harsher penalties. A conviction under § 6310.1 results in mandatory minimum fines:

• First offense: $1,000.00 fine

• Subsequent offenses: $2,500.00 fine per violation

In some cases, police may file separate charges for each minor involved—potentially leading to multiple fines and increased legal exposure.

Additional Penalties for a Furnishing Conviction:

• Probation is common, though jail time is rare unless there are aggravating circumstances or a significant criminal history.

• Under the Liquor Code violation (47 P.S. § 4-493), penalties include:

  • First offense: $100.00 to $500.00 fine

  • Subsequent offenses: $300.00 to $500.00 fine

ARD for Furnishing Alcohol to Minors in State College

For first-time offenders—especially Penn State students—many Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor cases are resolved through Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD), a pretrial diversion program. Successful completion of ARD allows for:

• Dismissal of charges

• Expungement of criminal record

Talk to a State College Furnishing Alcohol Defense Attorney Today

If you’ve been charged with Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor or Underage Drinking in State College or Centre County, it’s important to speak with a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer right away. Attorney Jason S. Dunkle has been defending Penn State students since 2004 and has extensive experience with alcohol-related offenses.

If you have additional questions or are interested in representation, please contact JD Law by email or leave a message at (814) 689-9139. Email is the preferred method of communication, as phone calls are directed to voicemail due to the high volume of spam and unsolicited calls.