No person under the age of 21 years ("underage person") shall,
without legal authority, knowingly possess or knowingly consume an
alcoholic beverage on private property. A person shall not be considered
to knowingly possess an alcoholic beverage merely because he or she
is present where alcoholic beverages are being consumed.
A person under the age of 21 years shall not be prohibited from:
A. Possessing
or consuming an alcoholic beverage in connection with a religious
observance, ceremony, or rite or possessing or consuming an alcoholic
beverage in the presence of and with the permission of a parent, guardian,
or relative who has attained the legal age to purchase or consume
alcoholic beverages; or
B. Possessing
an alcoholic beverage while engaged in the performance of employment
by a person who is licensed under Title 33 of the Revised Statutes
of New Jersey or while actively engaged in the preparation of food
while enrolled in a culinary arts or hotel management program at a
county vocational school or post-secondary educational institution.
A person who affirmatively requests assistance from authorities
(such as via a 911 call) or from an off-site adult (such as a parent,
guardian, or other adult) for the purpose of seeking aid for a person
who is suffering from the effects of alcohol or otherwise is in need
of medical assistance shall not be charged with underage possession
or consumption of alcohol on private property, as long as assistance
is provided as a result of such request. In an instance where such
an affirmative request for assistance is made, and the person to whom
the assistance is provided is under the age of 21, that person also
shall be not charged with underage possession or consumption of alcohol
on private property.
A person who is a resident of a dwelling on a private property
who affirmatively requests assistance from authorities (such as via
a 911 call) or from an off-site adult (such as a parent, guardian,
or other adult) for the purpose of controlling or removing nonresidents
who are on that property shall not be charged with underage possession
or consumption of alcohol on private property, as long as assistance
is provided as a result of such request.
As used in this section:
GUARDIAN
A person who has qualified as a guardian of the underage
person pursuant to testamentary or court appointment.
RELATIVE
The underage person's grandparent, aunt or uncle, sibling,
or any other person related by blood or affinity.
A violation of this article by an underage person shall be punished
by a fine of $250 for a first offense, and $350 for any subsequent
offense. In addition, the Court may, in its discretion, require the
performance of community-related service.