If your teenager has been arrested for underage drinking, you are definitely not alone. Many teens use alcohol before they reach the legal age of 21. It’s one of the most common reasons for arrests at this age.
That said, it’s also something that your teenager knew was illegal. As a parent, you may find yourself wondering why they did this in the first place. What would cause them to break the law and put themselves in this position?
Peer pressure
One potential reason is if they were experiencing peer pressure from others. Humans are social creatures and teenagers are trying to fit within different groups. They may do things in a group that they would never do on their own, such as drinking alcohol.
Escaping stress
Another thing to look for is if your teen has been going through any major life transitions or experiencing a lot of stress. Some teenagers will turn to alcohol as a form of stress relief. This could mean that there are other root causes you can address.
Curiosity
Finally, some teens are simply curious. Alcohol is a major part of culture, they see adults drinking it, but they are not allowed to do so. There are cases where this curiosity just gets the best of them, and then they find themselves facing criminal charges.
Focus on the future
The other thing you know as a parent is that this could have a major impact on your child’s future. You want to minimize that if possible. That’s why it’s so important for you to understand what legal defense options you have.