[Adopted 12-18-2000 by Ord. No. 737-00]
Any person under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages who knowingly possesses or consumes any alcoholic beverage in or on any school property, public conveyance, public place or place of public assembly or on private property shall be in violation of this article. Upon conviction, such underage person shall be subject to a fine of $250 for a first offense and $350 for any subsequent offense; perform community service for a period not to exceed 180 days; at the discretion of the court, have a New Jersey driving privilege suspended or postponed for six months; and, if considered necessary by the court, be referred to an alcohol treatment program at the defendant's expense.
This article shall not apply to persons under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages who possess or consume alcoholic beverages on private property in the presence of and with the permission of the parent or legal guardian of said person, provided that said guardian is of the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages, or if alcoholic beverage is being consumed in any religious observance, ceremony, or rite. The article shall not apply to possession of an alcoholic beverage by an underage person employed by an alcoholic beverage licensee in the course of performing employment duties.