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S 2134Alcohol

Alcoholic Beverages - Regulation of Sales

Reduces penalties for minors transporting alcohol by making fines and suspensions discretionary rather than mandatory and lowering maximum punishments.

Held for study
Population
Affected
15
Email Legislator
Introduced Jan 16, 2026Committee Senate Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This legislation amends the Rhode Island laws concerning the transportation of alcohol by persons under the age of twenty-one. It simplifies the definition of which adults may legally accompany a minor transporting alcohol, replacing a specific list of relatives with a broader requirement for a related adult over twenty-one. Most significantly, the bill reduces penalties for violations. It changes the punishment structure from a mandatory fine and license suspension to a fine or a license suspension. It also lowers the maximum fines and suspension periods for third and subsequent offenses.

For younger readers

This bill changes the rules for young drivers (under 21) who are caught driving with alcohol in their car. Before, the law listed specific family members like grandparents or siblings who had to be in the car to make it okay. Now, it just says any related adult over 21 is allowed. Also, if a young driver gets in trouble for this, the punishment is smaller. Instead of definitely paying money and losing their license, the judge can decide to just do one or the other. It also lowers the punishment for making the same mistake again.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Drivers under age 21Parents and guardiansTraffic Tribunal JudgesLaw Enforcement OfficersFamilies of young drivers
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
None
Estimated revenue
Amount unknown

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Reduces the financial burden on low-income youth and their families by lowering fines and removing mandatory combined penalties (fine and suspension), allowing for more equitable justice.
  • Mitigates the long-term socioeconomic impact on young people by reducing license suspension periods, which helps ensure they can continue to drive to work or school.
  • Simplifies the legal definition of accompanying adults to include any related adult, which creates a more inclusive policy for those with non-traditional family structures.
  • Does not completely decriminalize the behavior, continuing to rely on punitive measures like fines and suspensions rather than educational or restorative justice approaches for substance use.
  • Retains the requirement for a related adult to be present, which may still disadvantage youth in the foster care system or those without close family ties nearby.
  • May raise concerns among some community safety advocates that the reduction in penalties could minimize the perceived seriousness of mixing youth, driving, and alcohol.
For Conservatives
  • Reduces government overreach by giving judges more discretion to choose between a fine or a suspension, rather than mandating a harsh, one-size-fits-all punishment.
  • Simplifies the regulatory code by removing a complex, specific list of qualifying relatives and replacing it with a broader, common-sense definition of family.
  • Lowers excessive financial penalties and suspension times that can be viewed as disproportionate to the offense, protecting citizens from overly aggressive state punishment.
  • Undermines the rule of law by significantly reducing the penalties for underage persons transporting alcohol, potentially sending a message that this illegal behavior is acceptable.
  • Weakens deterrence against underage drinking and driving, which could lead to an increase in traffic accidents and endangerment of public safety on the roads.
  • Removes the mandatory license suspension for repeat offenders, potentially allowing individuals who have demonstrated a lack of responsibility to remain on the road.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 17 additions · 16 deletions

SECTION 1. Section 3-8-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 3-8 entitled "Regulation of Sales" is hereby amended to read as follows: 3-8-9. Transportation of alcoholic beverages by underage persons.

(a) Any person who has not reached his or her twenty-first (21st) birthday and who operates a motor vehicle upon the public highways, except when accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or another adult who is over the age of twenty-one (21) years and related, whether by blood, adoption or marriage, to the operator within the following degree of sanguinity: brother, sister, grandfather, grandmother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, uncle, aunt, great uncle or great aunt and, knowingly having liquor or intoxicating beverages in any form in containers, opened or unopened, in any part of the vehicle shall be guilty of a criminal violation. The words liquor and intoxicating beverages, as used in this section, have the same meaning as defined in chapter 1 of this title. This section does not apply to persons between the ages of sixteen (16) and twenty-one

(21) who are transporting unopened alcoholic beverages in the course of their employment. No person who is under the age of twenty-one (21) shall operate a motor vehicle upon the public highways, while knowingly having liquor or intoxicating beverages in any form in containers, opened or unopened, in any part of the vehicle, except when accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or another adult who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older and related, whether by blood, adoption, or marriage, to the operator. The words “liquor” and “intoxicating beverages”, as used in this section, have the same meaning as defined in chapter 1 of this title. This section does not apply to persons between the ages of sixteen (16) and twenty-one (21) who are transporting unopened alcoholic beverages in the course of their employment.

(b) Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section shall be subject to the following:

(1) For a first offense, a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) andor have his or her license to operate a motor vehicle suspended for not more than thirty (30) days;

(2) For a second offense, a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) andor have his or her license to operate a motor vehicle suspended for not more than ninety (90) days;

(3) For a third or subsequent offense, a fine of no less not more than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than nine hundred and fifty dollars ($950) andor have his or her license to operate a motor vehicle suspended for one year not more than six (6) months.

(c) The original jurisdiction for enforcement of this section shall be exclusively in the traffic tribunal.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.