Underage drinking charges can have a devastating effect on the life of a young person. Parents of young Philadelphia residents should take note of one recent story that highlights just how underage drinking charges can hurt a family. While the following events occurred in Chester County, they may be of interest to any parents of teenage children in the Philadelphia area.
A father and his teenage son are facing charges related to a party that took place at the family residence. A total of 19 teenagers under the age of 21 were found inside the home, where the 46-year-old father and his 18-year-old son were hosting the party. All of the partygoers are being charged with underage drinking and the father and son are facing many more serious charges, including felony interference with the custody of children, endangering the welfare of children, corruption of minors and selling or furnishing liquor to minors.
Parents of teenagers are oftentimes faced with a challenging situation, as their children are entering the grown-up world and have hard choices to make. Sometimes a parent may feel that it makes more sense from a safety perspective to allow teenagers to party at home so that they can’t get into more trouble on their own. However, those who chose to do so can face some very serious alcohol-related charges when police raids occur.
Teenagers who are convicted of underage drinking may face license suspension and have a permanent blemish on their record that can have a negative effect on future employment and education opportunities. Parents whose children are facing such charges, however, should know that there are alternatives to traditional sentencing available. Diversion programs offer a chance for juveniles who are charged in police actions like this to satisfy court-ordered conditions, after which charges are dismissed.
With the help of the right criminal defense professional to protect their rights, Philadelphia parents and their teenagers are much more likely to find a way to move past underage drinking charges successfully.
Source: CBS Philly, “Father, Son Accused Of Hosting Underage Drinking Party At Chester County Home,” Brad Segall, March 18, 2013
