With family visiting for the holidays, can minors drink legally at home? Here’s Idaho’s law
With family and friends home for the holidays, it’s easy to loosen up and let an underage family member enjoy an alcoholic beverage or two.
Or perhaps you’re home from college and looking to enjoy a couple of drinks with high school friends in the comfort of someone’s home.
Regardless of the situation, have you ever wondered about the legality behind parents who let their teenagers drink with them or in their house?
Can Idaho minors legally drink?
It turns out it is entirely legal in Idaho for a minor, aged younger than 21, to possess alcohol under their parent’s or guardian’s permission and under their supervision while in a private residence, but it is still illegal to consume it. The law also states that minors possessing alcohol with a parent or guardian are limited to beer and wine.
But it would be illegal to extend that courtesy to their child’s friends. Only with a parent or legal guardian’s permission and supervision is underage alcohol possession allowed in Idaho.
This is outlined by state law, and failing to abide by them is considered a misdemeanor.
Idaho also has a zero-tolerance policy on minors possessing or even being under the influence of alcohol in public, according to the Alcohol Policy Information System, a government-run tool for alcohol research and information.
Idaho is also one of just five states that do not offer exemptions for minors drinking alcohol for religious, medicinal or research purposes. The other four states are Alabama, Arkansas, New Hampshire and West Virginia.
Penalties for underage drinking in Idaho
While it may be safe for minors to possess beer and wine with their parents, Idaho is still one of the strictest states for underage alcohol consumption. For example, Idaho’s neighbor, Washington, makes exceptions for medicinal purposes, religious context and viticulture education and research.
The Evergreen State lets underage viticulture students — those studying grapevine cultivation — taste wine for educational purposes.
Outside of what’s allowed by law, a first-time offender will receive an infraction, which in Idaho entails a fine of up to $300 but does not constitute a crime or criminal record.
A second violation will result in a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of no more than $2,000 and up to 30 days in jail. A third or more offense is punishable by up to $3,000 in fines and up to 60 days in jail.
This story was originally published November 24, 2023 at 4:00 AM.
