Legal Sanctions Concerning Alcohol and Drugs

Federal, state, and local laws make illegal use of alcohol and drugs serious crimes.  Convictions can lead to imprisonment, fines, and/or required community service.  Courts do not lift prison sentences to allow convicted persons to attend college or continue their jobs.  A felony conviction for such an offense can prevent you from entering many fields of employment or professions.

Controlled Substances: Common examples of controlled substances, as defined by law, are cocaine, marijuana, heroin, amphetamines, LSD, and other hallucinogens.  Federal law makes the distribution of drugs to persons under age 21 punishable by twice the normal penalty with a mandatory one year in prison.  If death or serious injury results from use of the substance, the prison sentence could be lengthened.

Possession of drugs without valid authorization is illegal.  While penalties for possession are generally not as great as for manufacture and distribution, the possession of relatively large quantities may be considered as intent to distribute.  Under both federal and state laws, penalties for possession, manufacture, and distribution are greater for second and subsequent convictions.

Persons convicted of drug possession under state or federal laws are ineligible for federal student grants and loans for five years following the first conviction, ten years after the second, and permanently after the third conviction.

Massachusetts has criminal penalties for use of controlled substances or drugs, varying with the type of drug.  In general narcotic, addictive, and drugs with greater potential for abuse carry higher penalties.

Massachusetts also makes it illegal to be in a place where heroin is kept and to be "in the company" of a person known to possess heroin.  Anyone in the presence of heroin at a private party risks a serious drug conviction.  In addition, the sale or possession of drug paraphernalia is illegal in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts State Law Concerning Alcohol

1. Any person under 21 years of age who purchases alcoholic beverages or who makes arrangements with any other person to purchase, or who misrepresents his or her age in order to purchase alcoholic beverages, is guilty of a violation of the Massachusetts State law and is subject to a fine of $300.00.
2. Any person who makes a false statement as to the age of another person who is under 21 years of age in order to procure alcoholic beverages is guilty of violating the state law and is subject to a fine of $300.00.
3. Any person who uses a false liquor purchase identification card or alters or defaces a liquor purchase identification card in order to purchase alcoholic beverages is guilty of violating the state law and is subject to a fine of up to $200.00 or imprisonment of up to three months.
4. Any person under 21 years of age who willfully misrepresents his or her age or in any way alters, defaces or otherwise falsifies his or her identification offered as proof of age in order to purchase alcoholic beverages is guilty of violating state law and is subject to a fine of $300.00.
5. Any person under 21 years of age who transports or carries alcoholic beverages is guilty of violating the state law and is subject to a fine of up to $50.00.  A police officer may arrest such a person WITHOUT A WARRANT.  If the person was operating a motor vehicle at the time, his or her driver's license may be suspended for up to three months.
6. A host of a party may be liable for the injuries suffered by a third person if the host knew or should have known that his or her guest was drunk, and nevertheless gave or permitted the guest to take an alcoholic drink and thereafter, because of his or her intoxication, the guest negligently operated a car, causing injury to the third person.  If the guest whose drunk driving causes an accident is a minor, the host who served the alcohol to the minor might be held liable to the injured third person even if the minor was not intoxicated when the host served the minor alcohol.
7. Massachusetts has a "zero tolerance" law for blood alcohol level in drivers aged 16 to 21.  For such drivers, any alcohol level greater than .02 (roughly equivalent to one drink or a beer) will result in on-the-spot revocation of the driving license.  For adults over 21, the maximum permitted level in the law is .08.  A first conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol carries with it a fine of $1,000.00, one year revocation of your driver's license, and mandatory alcohol education.  It may also include up to two years in prison.

Williamstown Open Container Law

No person shall drink alcoholic beverages from an open container while on any public way or in a public place.  No person shall carry an open container of alcoholic beverage while on any public way or in a public place.  Violation of this Williamstown ordinance may result in a fine of not less than $20.00 nor more than $200.00.