For a second offence or if they are under 16 years of age, the penalties are higher. The fine can be up to $600, up to 30 days in jail and 120 days of licence suspension. In addition, the same penalties apply to illegal possession of alcohol. Remember a very important fact. This means that the police can legally lie during the investigation. So don`t be stupid! According to Vermont law, a “social host” is a person who does not have and does not have to have a liquor license. Under this law, a social host who provides alcohol to a person under the age of 21 may be required to pay compensation for injuries caused by the minor`s intoxication if the social host knew or should have known that the minor was under the legal drinking age. “Vermont will be a little safer for our youth going forward,” said Governor Madeleine M. Kunin by signing the bill raising the legal drinking age from 18 to 21, effective July 1. Under federal law, states that don`t raise their minimum drinking age could lose federal funds for highways. Under the Vermont Dram Shop Act, a spouse, child, guardian, employer or other person injured by an intoxicated person has the right to take action against a licensed drinking establishment if the establishment caused the intoxication in whole or in part by selling or providing liquor to a minor. to a person, who is obviously under the influence of alcohol. to a person after legal working hours or to a person who can reasonably be expected to be under the influence of alcohol because of the amount of alcohol served to that person.
A claim for damages under the Vermont Dram Shop Act must be filed within two years of the date of the violation. Let`s say you`re a sociological researcher and you need to observe drunken human behavior in nature. The first place you might look for is a bar. Ironically (and theoretically), this is actually the last place to look here: in Vermont, it`s against the rules to sell alcohol to anyone who is drunk, looks drunk or likely to get drunk if they keep drinking. And if you`re drunk, the facilities may not just want you to leave; They are obliged to do you. The state acted after criticism from neighboring states that Vermont had become an oasis for teenage drinkers. New York has raised its drinking age to Dec. 21, fueling efforts against teen drinking.
Reason: Let`s say you buy a bottle of wine at dinner and end up having only one or two glasses. If the open bottle were to stay in the restaurant, you might be tempted to put an end to all this. This way, the bottle is the only thing that is half drunk when you get home. Vermont Governor Madeleine M. Kunin signed an executive order raising the drinking age from 18 to 21. The other northeastern states have already taken this step. Notes: Vermont has two affirmative defense laws. First, according to Vt. Stat. 7, § 658 An employee of a licensee or state-designated liquor agency responsible for supplying minors asserts that the employee carefully examined a particular piece of photo identification, that an ordinary prudent person would believe that the buyer is of legal age to make the purchase, and that the sale was made in good faith.
based on the reasonable assumption that the buyer was of legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages. APIS interpreted the requirement of “good faith” and “reasonable faith” to provide the employee with a defence to reasonably rely on demonstrably valid identification. Section 602 of Tit.7 provides that the sale or making available to a person who can produce “valid authorized identification”, that is: A valid photo operator`s license, an extended driver`s license or a valid non-driver`s license issued by Vermont or any other foreign state or jurisdiction, a United States military identification card or a valid passport or passport card with photo and signature of the person constitute prima facie evidence of the licensee`s compliance. with the law prohibiting the sale or supply of alcoholic beverages to minors. The first provision is a specific positive defence for employees of state stores and employees of retail licensees. The second provision applies to licensees and appears to provide them with at least limited protection from prosecution, although the text of the legislation is unclear as to how the provision is to be enforced.