Alcohol and Cannabis Under 21
235 ILCS 5/6-20 — buying, holding or drinking alcohol under 21 is a Class A misdemeanor
- A person under 21 may not buy alcohol, accept it as a gift, or have it in their possession.
- The consumption of alcohol by anyone under 21 is forbidden.
- No one may alter or deface an identification card, use another's, carry or use a false or forged one, or get one with false information.
Who handles this in Illinois: Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Lawyer Finder; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Illinois directory.
Violating any provision of the section is a Class A misdemeanor.
Two exceptions the section names. Drinking as part of a religious service or ceremony, and drinking in the privacy of a home under the direct supervision and approval of a parent or someone standing in a parent's place, are not prohibited by the Act.
Nothing in the cannabis law lets a person under 21 possess cannabis. Doing so is a civil law violation, and where the person was in a motor vehicle at the time, the Secretary of State may suspend or revoke their driving privileges.
Sources for this section (2)
- 235 ILCS 5/6-20 — Transfer, possession, and consumption of alcoholic liquor; restrictions
- 410 ILCS 705/10-15 — Persons under 21 years of age
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Illinois attorney.