When young adults attend college, many of them are not yet legally allowed to consume alcoholic beverages. At most universities and colleges in Colorado, and in other states throughout the country, binge drinking is part of the culture that students may become familiar with. If a student attends college directly after he or she has graduated from high school, and assuming the average high school graduate is 18-years-old, it would not be until the student’s junior year that he or she would be 21.
The state legislature in Wisconsin is proposing a series of bills to grant immunity to students at the University of Wisconsin that participate in underage drinking. There are situations when emergency medical assistance might be necessary when students have been binge drinking. The bills remove disciplinary powers from administrators at the University of Wisconsin, allowing students to seek medical help without suffering expulsion or suspension. It was not disclosed if immunity would extend to students charged with an underage DUI.
Consequences from law enforcement officers for underage drinking usually involves citation, but could also include fines and jail time. The proposed bills, however, would extend immunity from collegiate discipline to criminal immunity for underage drinking when students find themselves in emergency medical situations. People seeking immunity must cooperate with law enforcement officers in order to receive it.
Entering college and fully participating in all of its offerings is something that many students welcome. Most students understand the fact that they are not allowed to consume alcohol legally during most of their undergraduate career. If, however, they decide to participate in binge drinking and they receive a citation for underage drinking, it might be helpful to seek legal counsel from an experienced attorney.
Source: The Badger Herald, “Students could see immunity from underage drinking tickets,” Aaron Drews, Oct. 3, 2013.