Ask the Mayor: What is the Punishment for Underage Drinkers?

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Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the most-asked questions submitted to his office staff.

Dear Mayor,

Q: I am just curious about the law regarding underage drinking, the punishment for the offenders and those who supply their alcohol, and why their licenses apparently aren’t revoked?

When reading the lists of DUI arrests/offenders every week, it seems that their punishment is no different than someone else’s of legal age. Why not make their punishment more severe and pursue charges, etc. for those who supply them?

A: I checked with our Juvenile Crime Prevention Commander who works with juveniles and was informed that Maui Police Department occasionally conducts Youth Underage Drinking Deterrence operations that can be initiated anywhere in Maui County.

Officers also respond to complaints when possible, to help curb underage drinking in areas that are identified by the community. The operations and complaints of identified areas of underage drinking can be investigated by several elements of MPD by their Uniformed Services Bureau to their Juvenile Crime Prevention Division.

Want to Ask the Mayor?

Submit your questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa via email, by phone at 270-7855 or by mail to 200 S. High St., 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the Ask the Mayor column.