Alcohol use and effects

Alcohol consumption can cause marked changes in behavior, even in low doses, which include the inability to drive, accidents, aggression, and abuse. High doses can lead to personality disorders, inability to learn, illness, and death. Repeated use of alcohol leads to dependence. Withdrawal can produce depression, anxiety, tremors, hallucinations, convulsions, and damage to major organs of the body. Mothers who drink during pregnancy may give birth to infants with fetal alcohol syndrome, including abnormalities and retardation. These children are also at risk for becoming alcoholics.

Excerpts from the State of Ohio Laws regarding alcohol:

l. Persons under the age of 2l who pay for, share the cost of, or attempt to purchase, or possess or consume beer or intoxicating liquor in any public place either from a sealed or unsealed container or by the glass or by the drink, or furnish false information as to name, age or other identification, are subject to a fine of up to $l,000 dollars, or imprisonment of up to 6 months, or both.

2. Persons shall not knowingly furnish false information as to the name, age, or other identification of any person under 2l years of age for the purpose of obtaining alcoholic beverages.

3. No person under 2l shall knowingly show or give false information for the purpose of obtaining or purchasing alcoholic beverages.

4. No person shall manufacture, sell, or distribute identification cards for the purpose of establishing a person's age that displays the great seal of the State of Ohio or in any way represents the card as the official Ohio card.

5. No person shall display or possess false identifications cards or operator's licenses, or lend such identification cards to any other person.

6. No person shall sell, buy, or furnish beer or intoxicating liquor to a person under the age of 2l, unless for established religious purposes, or unless the person under 2l is accompanied by a parent, spouse, or legal guardian.

7. No person who is the owner or occupant of any public place shall knowingly allow anyone under 2l to remain in the place while possessing or consuming beer or intoxicating liquor unless given by the person's parent, spouse, or legal guardian. Penalty: lst degree misdemeanor 6 months $l,000 fine

8. Advertisements may not include specific reference to the price of a beverage or to a special price break such as "2 drinks for the price of l." There shall not be advertising that prizes will be given at an event where alcoholic beverages are served.

9. No person shall consume intoxicating liquor in a motor vehicle.

l0. No person shall violate Open Container Laws of local city ordinances.

(revised 4/97)