Can parents buy their kids alcohol in Missouri? See state laws on underage drinking
Minors across Missouri have been known to engage in underage drinking, usually risking legal consequences. But not every sip a minor takes is necessarily illegal.
More than 24% of Missouri high school students had consumed alcohol in 2021 within 30 days of the survey, according to a 2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study to track the prevalence of alcohol use. This is slightly more than the rest of the U.S., which is 22.7%.
There may be some parents who believe introducing their children to beer and wine in their house could help shield them from some of the harmful effects of alcohol abuse.
Since 1984, the federal legal age for alcohol consumption has been 21, but many states have exceptions in their laws.
Here are the situations where people under 21 can legally drink alcohol in Missouri.
Can parents provide alcohol to their children?
The law is vague if underage people in Missouri can drink under the watch of a parent or guardian.
State law specifies that it is not necessarily a crime for a parent or guardian to purchase alcohol for their underage child.
What are the underage drinking laws in Missouri?
However, state law does not specify how much alcohol provided by parents minors are legally allowed to consume, because minors should not be intoxicated beyond a certain level.
Missouri law says those under 21 are not permitted to purchase or attempt to purchase alcohol, be visibly intoxicated or have a “detectable blood alcohol content of more than two-hundredths of one percent or more by weight of alcohol.”
One can of beer would cause both a 200 pound man and a 170 pound woman to reach 0.02% blood alcohol content in 30 minutes, according to Alcohol.org.
Some third-party websites suggest people under 21 can drink when under certain circumstances. St. Louis-based Fernandez Law said, “Missouri law allows minors to consume alcohol if purchased by a parent or legal guardian and consumed on their private property.”
Additionally, someone between the ages 18 and 21 can legally drink alcohol if they are enrolled in a class where they are required to taste a drink as part of the curriculum, like in culinary school.
What happens if you get caught drinking underage?
According to state law, underage people in Missouri are not allowed to purchase, attempt to purchase alcohol, be visibly intoxicated or have a blood alcohol content over 0.02%.
The first violation is a class D misdemeanor, which carries a fine up to $500.
What if a minor gets caught using a fake ID?
It is a misdemeanor for those under age 21 to false identification to purchase alcohol. If charged, they could face a fine of up to $500.
In addition, those under age 17 could be also considered a delinquent child and face punishments for that.
What if an adult is caught selling or giving alcohol to a minor?
If you provide alcohol to any minor besides your own child, you could face a class B misdemeanor for the first instance, which carries a fine of up to $1,000 or up to six months in jail or both.
Have more questions about Missouri laws? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
