• Alcohol use by minors is a prevalent social problem in South DakotaBottle with beer beer on a white reflecting surface image by Alexander Oshvintsev from Fotolia.com
  
  Alcohol consumption by minors is a widespread problem in the United States. Every state in the union requires individuals to be at least 21 years old in order to purchase or consume alcohol. The state of South Dakota takes several measures to cut down on this illegal activity and punish offenders within the state's justice system.
  
  

Enforcement

• It is illegal for minors to consume or possess alcohol in South Dakota under any circumstance, with one exception. A parent, who is at least 21 years of age, can furnish alcohol for their minor child for religious, medical or educational purposes, provided the act does not occur in an establishment that is licensed for the sale of alcoholic beverages.
  
  

Enforcement Agency

• South Dakota law enforcement officials participate in a program funded by the federal government called the Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) program. This program provides funds to aid law enforcement in the arrest and prosecution of minors who are found to be in possession of, or under the influence of alcohol. The program looks at local law enforcement as the first line of defense in punishing minors who illegally obtain alcohol, according to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Deliquency Prevention.
  
  

Education

• The EDUL program in South Dakota puts a heavy emphasis on educating minors about the dangers of using alcohol. Alcohol is a factor in many traffic fatalities in South Dakota. According to the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, alcohol was involved in 46.6 percent of fatal crashes in 2009. The use of alcohol by minors also can lead to violence, suicide, high-risk sexual behavior and many other adverse outcomes, according to the EDUL program.
  
  

Penalties

• In South Dakota, any minor who has been found to be in possession of, or under the influence of, alcohol is subject to criminal prosecution. The penalties include fines, jail time and/or the loss of their driver's license for a period of 30 to 365 days.