<p>Alright, so after not even touching alcohol since May, I decided to go out and just get a little drunk last night. I got caught by the cops while walking from an apartment complex right next to me to my own complex. So now I have to go see the Dean of the school and I think that's it. It's like a big warning for me.</p>
<p>So now I'm scared to ever go party anywhere again for a while. I wouldn't mind just not drinking when I go to parties from now on (until I'm 21 maybe), but I bet I would still be in trouble if I was caught being there when there was alcohol there anyway. How does this work if I'm under 21 (20 years old) and at a party but not drinking? Could I still get busted again?</p>
<p>There is no law that says it is illegal to associate with drunk people. As long as you are not drunk, are not holding alcohol, or giving anyone underage alcohol, you are not breaking the law. First amendment says you have the right to associate with whomever you want (I know it's more detailed than that, I don't want to get into a long examination of the constitution, but basically you can meet with whomever you want to). I know at my school there is no punishment for being at a party unintoxicated, so there shouldn't be at yours.</p>
<p>Yeah I was unlucky. It's not like I was even driving or even had that much to drink, nor do I ever drink often. And of course I get caught and not the drunkard who is stumbling across the street every night. =P</p>
<p>I think the above posters are right about the legal aspects but also check out your school's rules. I know someone who roomed with a kid who had/drank alcohol in their dorm and because my friend DIDN'T tell anyone he was also punnished. This was a substance free dorm, though</p>
<p>My friend at San Francisco State University was also caught by the police when walking back to his dorm. They put him in the drunk tank at the station until 7:00am. He didn't have to go to court, pay a fine, and the school was never notified. It seems that the cops have more power in the law than anyone else. They determine the initial beginings in the judial system.</p>
<p>Well I was walking back to an on-campus apartment which is where I live. I'm sure there are extra rules at my apartment. But if I mean I was off-campus and at a party not drinking then I guess I would be fine.</p>
<p>At my school if you are in arms length of a drink than you can get busted. It's ridiculous. Just don't be stupid and you won't get caught. After that drinking ticket it was the last time I ever pee on something that isn't a toliet . . . or be stupid about drinking in public.</p>
<p>what state do you live in adconard because certain states have harsher laws than others. I live in nyc and cops dont care unless you look like you're in grade school.</p>
<p>Wow, that sucks. At our school, all the parties happen in the frat and sorority houses immediately across the street from campus. The cops will NOT bother you if you can make it back across the street and onto campus again. It's home base. Once you're there, nobody cares. The cops aren't allowed on campus.</p>
<p>Wow that rules. Sometimes I wish it was more than a collegetown here at U of I. The cops really have nothing better to do. They keep stacking the prices higher and higher for drinking ($290 for underage, that's bogus). Oh well, I just don't do anything stupid anymore. $415 can do that to you.</p>
<p>Yeah i see cops everywhere at UI nowdays too. But the truth is...as long as you are within your limits( not screaming, dancing and doing other crazy stuff on the streets) the chances of you getting caught is pretty slim. Bars are a little unsafe due to frequent Cop raids but remember to immedately let go off the drink in your hand when u see em and they wont bother you.</p>
<p>It has campus safety, but they don't care too much. You just get off with a warning, pretty much. But as far as avoiding the regular police that can really get you in trouble, it's at least an agreement between the school and the force that they won't mess with anybody on campus/won't come on campus unless called.</p>
<p>interesting - my university has a state police agency on campus, meaning they have jurisdiction anywhere within the state of CA. Fortunately that means they have better things to do than bust underage drinkers. Also, the school is pretty lax about it - the official policy in the dorms is that as long as your door is closed (ie the RA can't see it), you can drink alcohol regardless of age.</p>
<p>Well I saw the Dean today and they told me that my parents would notified, that I need to take a 4 hour alcohol awareness class on a Saturday morning, and possibly an 8 hour in total class in the span of a few weeks but that's only once I am formally evaluated by some other person.</p>
<p>Part of me just says stay away from parties altogether for a while and if I ever do go again don't even drink. I don't plan on really drinking until 21 now. I've worked too hard in school to risk that kind of thing this time.</p>
<p>formally evaluated? seriously? Thats extremely harsh for a very minor offense.
And calling your parents? Thats just sad. Your school needs to start treating its students like adults.</p>
<p>Ya'll may want to recall a form that most students/parents were made aware of as freshmen - the 'rules' relating to alcohol and underage drinking - alot of schools have or are developing policies that are getting tougher and tougher because of the legalities involved - and that form usually spells out the ramifications of underage drinking - including notification to parents - alcohol awareness classes - community service - dorm probation - just about anything you can think of - with every school handling underage drinking differently. Also there is probably something stuck in that student handbook about this also - that students are supposed to be aware of.</p>
<p>ADCONRAD guess you are lucky you didn't get arrested and end up in the clinker huh.</p>
<p>Icarus - ''start treating students as adults'' - when they act like an adult - and obey the laws - which in effect - drinking under 21 is not legal - and when one gets caught there are ramifications.</p>
<p>Sorry to be a downer about this - but.....students are responsible for knowing what the rules are - and when they are broken - well............ ya pay a price. Hey - my own kiddo was in a dorm room - someone had an open container - kiddo was NOT drinking and she got nailed as well as the other kids - had to see head of housing - had to write a paper - was on dorm probation for 3 months - just for visiting!! - supposed to KNOW the rules and expected to follow them is what was told her kiddo - so hey - the schools are trying to clean up their acts and this is what it takes.</p>
That is ridiculous. I couldn't imagine not drinking til I'm 21. Especially now that I have actually done it. Sucks for you man.
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<p>Yeah, well I've only gotten drunk maybe 4 times in my whole life, so I'll be kind of amused secretly when they tell me how bad I am for drinking so much. Besides, I can manage without alcohol. Usually do so most of the time anyway.</p>