Underage Drinking
R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-8-10 — a fine that rises with each offense, community service, and a driver's license suspended
A person who has not reached their twenty first birthday and has an alcoholic beverage in their possession is fined, by offense:
| Offense | Fine |
|---|---|
| OffenseFirst | Fine$150 to $750 |
| OffenseSecond | Fine$300 to $750 |
| OffenseThird or more | Fine$450 to $950 |
The license goes too. Every violation adds thirty hours of community service and at least a sixty day suspension of the driver's license. A second may bring a substance abuse assessment.
It is also unlawful for an underage person to enter a licensed premises to buy or be served, to drink there, to try to buy, or to misstate an age or show someone else's identification to get served.
Calling for help in an alcohol emergency has its own protection, on the overdose page. A particular charge is a question for a licensed Rhode Island attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-8-10 — Possession of beverage by underage persons
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-8-6 — Unlawful drinking and misrepresentation by underage persons; Identification cards for persons twenty-one and older
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Rhode Island attorney.