Underage Drinking
Ala. Code § 28-1-5 — no buying, drinking, having or carrying alcohol under 21, and a fake ID costs the license
Someone under 21 does not try to buy, buy, drink, possess or transport any alcoholic beverage in Alabama. A person 18, 19 or 20 may still work as a server or busser at a certified restaurant without pouring, and someone under 21 may handle and sell alcohol on the job for a wholesaler or a store.
Who handles this in Alabama: Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Alabama directory.
A minor buying, drinking, possessing or transporting alcohol, or using a fake or borrowed driver license to get it, commits a misdemeanor with a fine of $50 to $500, and up to three months in jail may be added.
The license goes too. For a minor convicted of having alcohol or of using a false license to get it, including in juvenile court, the driver's license is surrendered for three to six months.
Sources for this section (2)
- Ala. Code § 28-1-5 — Minimum Age for Purchase, Etc., of Alcoholic Beverage; Employment of Underage Individuals by Board Licensee
- Ala. Code § 28-3A-25 — Unlawful Acts and Offenses; Penalties
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Alabama attorney.