Iowa criminal charge
Persons under eighteen years of age, persons eighteen, nineteen, or twenty years of age, and persons twenty-one years of age and older in Iowa
Persons under eighteen years of age, persons eighteen, nineteen, or twenty years of age, and persons twenty-one years of age and older is a criminal offense under Iowa law, defined by Iowa Code § 123.47. Its classification is not fixed: Iowa assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Iowa Code § 123.47.
How is persons under eighteen years of age, persons eighteen, nineteen, or twenty years of age, and persons twenty-one years of age and older classified in Iowa?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permitting minor to possess/consume alcohol on private property — first offense | Simple Misdemeanor | First offense of an owner/lessee/controller of non-licensed property knowingly permitting a person under 18 to consume or possess alcoholic beverages on the property. | Iowa Code § 123.47(2)(b)(1) |
| Permitting minor to possess/consume alcohol on private property — second or subsequent offense | Simple Misdemeanor | Second or subsequent offense of the same property-owner violation, punishable by a $500 fine. | Iowa Code § 123.47(2)(b)(2) |
| Underage purchase/possession/consumption — first offense | Simple Misdemeanor | First violation by a person 18, 19, or 20 years old who purchases, attempts to purchase, consumes, or possesses alcoholic beverages. | Iowa Code § 123.47(4)(a)(1) |
| Underage purchase/possession/consumption — second offense | Simple Misdemeanor | Second violation by a person 18-20 of purchasing, attempting to purchase, consuming, or possessing alcohol, punishable by a $500 fine plus evaluation or license suspension. | Iowa Code § 123.47(4)(a)(2) |
| Underage purchase/possession/consumption — third or subsequent offense | Simple Misdemeanor | Third or subsequent violation by a person 18-20 of purchasing, attempting to purchase, consuming, or possessing alcohol, punishable by a $500 fine and license suspension. | Iowa Code § 123.47(4)(a)(3) |
| Adult supplying alcohol to minor — standard violation | Serious Misdemeanor | A person of legal age (non-licensee/permittee) sells, gives, or supplies alcohol to a person under legal age, absent the serious injury or death outcomes covered in subsections 7 and 8. | Iowa Code § 123.47(5) |
| Adult supplying alcohol to minor resulting in serious injury | Aggravated Misdemeanor | A person of legal age (non-licensee/permittee) sells, gives, or supplies alcohol to a minor, and the violation results in serious injury to any person. | Iowa Code § 123.47(7) |
| Adult supplying alcohol to minor resulting in death | Class “D” Felony | A person of legal age (non-licensee/permittee) sells, gives, or supplies alcohol to a minor, and the violation results in the death of any person. | Iowa Code § 123.47(8) |
Common questions about persons under eighteen years of age, persons eighteen, nineteen, or twenty years of age, and persons twenty-one years of age and older in Iowa
Is persons under eighteen years of age, persons eighteen, nineteen, or twenty years of age, and persons twenty-one years of age and older a felony or a misdemeanor in Iowa?
It depends on the circumstances: persons under eighteen years of age, persons eighteen, nineteen, or twenty years of age, and persons twenty-one years of age and older ranges from a Simple Misdemeanor to a Class “D” Felony in Iowa under Iowa Code § 123.47.
Permitting minor to possess/consume alcohol on private property — first offense: Simple Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 123.47(2)(b)(1)) · Permitting minor to possess/consume alcohol on private property — second or subsequent offense: Simple Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 123.47(2)(b)(2)) · Underage purchase/possession/consumption — first offense: Simple Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 123.47(4)(a)(1)) · Underage purchase/possession/consumption — second offense: Simple Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 123.47(4)(a)(2)) · Underage purchase/possession/consumption — third or subsequent offense: Simple Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 123.47(4)(a)(3)) · Adult supplying alcohol to minor — standard violation: Serious Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 123.47(5)) · Adult supplying alcohol to minor resulting in serious injury: Aggravated Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 123.47(7)) · Adult supplying alcohol to minor resulting in death: Class “D” Felony (Iowa Code § 123.47(8))
Which Iowa statute covers persons under eighteen years of age, persons eighteen, nineteen, or twenty years of age, and persons twenty-one years of age and older?
Persons under eighteen years of age, persons eighteen, nineteen, or twenty years of age, and persons twenty-one years of age and older is governed by Iowa Code § 123.47 (Persons under eighteen years of age, persons eighteen, nineteen, or twenty years of age, and persons twenty-one years of age and older).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.