In Arizona, the legal age for the consumption of alcohol is 21. As such, young drivers need to be especially careful if they intend to get behind the wheel of a car when they have been drinking. This is because many states carry a zero tolerance policy when it comes to the blood alcohol content of drivers under the legal drinking age. As a result, if you are stopped with any alcohol in your system while driving, you could face criminal charges.
Part of the reason for these particularly strict rulings is that a large number of deaths of 15 to 20-year-olds in the United States are reported to be related to drunk driving. Roughly a third of deaths of people in this age bracket were found to be caused by road accidents and approximately 35 percent of those were DUI related deaths.
With these numbers in mind, it is hardly surprising that authorities are keen to combat the prevalence of underage drinking, particularly among young drivers. However, being convicted of such an offense could leave a permanent mark on your record, not to mention putting you at risk of losing your license or facing hefty fines.
If you have been charged with underage drinking or another DUI-related offense, you might benefit from an attorney’s support. He or she can evaluate the circumstances of your arrest and may be able to help you identify any details that might help to bolster your defense.
