Alcohol and the Law
The information that
follows is provided to promote an increased awareness among Hendrix students of
state and county laws governing alcohol use. It is intended to be neither a
restatement of law nor a summary of all the laws relating to alcoholic
beverages. For a full listing of Arkansas laws and penalties, please see
www.arkansas.gov.
In Conway and in Arkansas,
it is illegal:
• to
knowingly or unknowingly sell, give, procure, or otherwise furnish alcoholic
beverages to any person under 21 years of age;
Penalties for unknowingly
providing:
1st offense: Fine - $200 to $500
2nd or subsequent offense: Jail Time - No less than 1
year; Fine - $500 to $1000
Penalties for knowingly providing:
1st offense: Misdemeanor; Jail Time - No more than 10
days; Fine - No more than $500
2nd or subsequent offense: Felony; Jail Time - 1 to 5
years; Fine - No more than $500
• for
a person under the age of 21 years of age to purchase or have in his or her
possession any intoxicating liquor, wine, or beer (alcohol inside the body is
deemed possession);
Penalties
1st offense: Misdemeanor; Fine - $100 to $500; Theme or
essay on liquors, wine, or beer; probation
2nd or subsequent offense: Same as 1st offense
• to
be publicly intoxicated by either appearing in a public place under the
influence of alcohol or a controlled substance to the degree that the person
annoys others in the vicinity or is likely to cause injury to self, others, or
property, or by consuming an alcoholic beverage in a public place;
• to sell, give away, or dispose of intoxicating liquor
to an intoxicated person.
For
those arrested for possessing or purchasing alcohol as a minor the following
applies:
In addition to the fine, at the time of arrest of a person
eighteen (18) years of age or older for violation of the provisions of
subsection of this section, the arrested person shall immediately surrender his
or her license, permit, or other evidence of driving privilege to the arresting
law enforcement officer as provided in § 5-65-402. The Office of Driver
Services or its designated official shall suspend or revoke the driving
privilege of the arrested person or shall suspend any nonresident driving
privilege of the arrested person, as provided in § 5-65-402.
The period of suspension or revocation shall be based on the
offense that caused the surrender of the arrested person's license, permit, or
other evidence of driving privilege as described in subdivision (e)(1) of this
section and the number of any previous offenses as follows:
(i)
Suspension for sixty (60) days for a
first offense under subsection (a) of this section;
(ii) Suspension for one hundred twenty (120) days for a second
offense under subsection (a) of this section; and
(iii) Suspension for one (1) year for a third or subsequent
offense under subsection (a) of this section.