Alcohol is legal for those who are 21 years old and older in Maryland, as it is across the United States. But there are still restrictions on when and how alcohol can be used. For example, drunk driving is illegal, and most drivers have a legal limit of a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%. Drinking enough to violate this limit demonstrates impairment and can lead to DUI charges.
But what about people who are under 21? Even though they are not old enough to legally purchase, possess, or consume alcohol, it is clear that it happens. Underage drinking is relatively common in both high school and college.
One important thing for these individuals to note is that, because they are under 21, they are bound by Maryland’s zero-tolerance DUI laws.
What difference does this make?
Zero-tolerance laws are based on the fact that underage drivers should not have been drinking at all. If a police officer smells alcohol on their breath, it is evidence that they have already broken the law. The same is true if even a small amount of alcohol shows up in a breath test.
As such, the zero-tolerance laws lower the legal limit for underage drivers to just 0.02%. This is a significant change. Many drivers could hit or exceed this level after just a single drink. Therefore, it is much easier for young drivers to get DUI charges.
If you are a young person facing serious criminal charges, it is important to understand exactly what legal rights and defense options you have to protect your future.