Minor in Possession of Alcohol

Minor in Possession of Alcohol Charges and Penalties (MIP)

If you are under the age of 21 in Florida, it is illegal to possess any alcoholic beverage. The State of Florida prohibits anyone below the age of 21 from possessing any form of alcoholic beverages, and the penalties for violating this law are:

  • First Offense; You will be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor and ordered to pay a fine of up to $500.00 and sentenced to 60 days in jail.
  • Second Offense; You will be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor ordered to pay a fine of $1000.00 and sentenced to one year in jail.

Minors in Possession of Alcohol in Orlando

The Court will also direct the Department of High Safety and Motor Vehicles to withhold the issuance of, revoke, or suspend your driver’s license or driving privileges for the first violation of not less than six months and not more than one year, and any subsequent violation will be up to a period of two years suspension, or altogether revoked.

Although Florida prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from possessing any type of alcoholic beverage, the minor in possession (MIP) laws do not apply to servers who are 18 years or older and employed by a licensed business that sells, prepares, or provides alcoholic beverages to the public.

Penalties for a DUI while under the age of 21

Additionally, it is against the law for any driver under the age of 21 to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .02 or higher. The penalties you may be facing include, your driver’s license being suspended for 6 months, and if your BAC was .05 or more, your license will be suspended until you complete a substance abuse course. Until the substance abuse course is completed the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will not reinstate your driver’s license. Lastly, if you are under the age of 18 at the time, the police are required to contact your parents.

If you or your loved one find themselves in a situation where you are being accused of possession, call us right away at 407-930-8912 to speak with a qualified legal professional or fill out the contact form on this page. We’re available 24/7, we offer free initial consultation and payment plans. In addition to our Orlando location, we have offices in the following cities across the state of Florida:

*Additional Orlando Florida & Orange County Legal Resources