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Binge Drinking Laws in Illinois

Dan had just finished his eighth beer and the bar is about to close. However, he is not ready to go home. So, he calls up Roger to meet him at the next bar down the road to help him celebrate the completion of his promotion.

Every weekend, thousands of individuals across Illinois go through similar drinking patterns for various reasons.

 
 

More articles on DUI Laws in Illinois

  
 

What is Binge Drinking?

Binge drinking refers to the when men consume five or more alcoholic drinks in quick succession. This value is lowered to four for women. Binge drinking among Illinois residence occur for various reasons. Binge drinking starts with the effort made by bar owners and alcoholic drink manufactures to make drinking alcohol seem the cool thing to do. Other individuals binge drink due to stress, curiosity, the notion that it makes them feel good and peer pressure.

However, this is all a myth, as most binge drinkers feel extremely sick the day after their drinking episode. In addition, there are many legal repercussions.

Effects of Binge Drinking in Illinois

The administrators of the state of Illinois are always trying to tackle the scourge of binge drinking amongst its adult and college population. The presence of one of America’s leading universities located in the state, even though they cannot stop everyone, their various educational promotions backed up by legislations have been reaping some success.

One of their initiatives is where they commissioned a study to identify the basic symptoms of binge drinking. Some of their findings included:

  • Obnoxious behavior
  • Slur speech, poor balance and lack of coordination
  • Feeling nauseous
  • Falling in and out of consciousness
  • Poor bladder control

Illinois Binge Drinking laws

Many of Illinois binge drinking laws are similar to their DUI laws. However, these laws go outside the realms of drunk driving to encompass the behavior of individuals and the effect they have on their immediate surroundings. These include:

  • Illinois DUI Laws: Illinois DUI laws apply to those individuals who drive with a BAC level of 0.08% or greater. This value is reduced to 0.02% for minors or young adults under the age of 21. Illinois DUI crimes are punishable by jail time, fines, suspension of driver’s license and community service. Repeat DUI offenders are given higher fines and punishments accordingly.
  • Illinois beer limit law: For residents of Illinois to purchase more than four kegs of beer at any one time, they must first get a license from the authorities.
  • Alcohol purchase prohibition for minors: Minors are prohibited from purchasing alcohol on the street, highway or in public places. Violation of this law is classified as a Class B misdemeanor and punishable by a $500 fine or six-month prison term.
  • Private residence use: In Illinois is it illegal for parents or guardians to allow their residence to be used by minors who are in the possession of alcohol. Violation is treated as a Class A misdemeanor.
  • Illinois drug and alcohol free workplace act: This law prohibits the unlawful manufacturing, distribution, dispensation, sale, and possession of alcohol in the workplace.