You get a call from your child while they’re away at college for their freshman year. They tell you that they’ve been arrested for an alcohol-related offense. Maybe they were in possession of alcohol while underage, or perhaps they were accused of furnishing alcohol to other minors. Maybe they were even arrested for drinking and driving or being intoxicated in public.
As a parent, you’re shocked by these charges. Your child never had a problem with drinking before, and they were well aware that the legal drinking age is 21. Why do college students still drink alcohol even when they know it could lead to serious charges?
Social pressure
It’s certainly true that students often have their own reasons for drinking. Some of them do it to deal with stress, anxiety or depression. Others may actually have an alcohol abuse disorder. Still others are just curious and want to know what it’s like to drink now that they have more time on their own.
But in many cases, the issue is just social pressure. College students want to fit in. They want to be accepted by their peers. They’re in a new place, meeting new people, and they’re trying to find friends and even romantic partners. A college student may never have consumed alcohol before, but if they find themselves at an apartment where everyone else is drinking, they might risk it just to fit in. In this sense, peer pressure itself can lead to criminal charges.
Facing charges at this age could affect your child’s ability to get an education, pursue the career they want and much more. That’s why it’s so important to consider all of the legal defense options you have.