While many consider underage drinking to be a rite of passage, it's a ritual that can lead to serious legal, academic and family problems for some students at the University of Georgia.

A week ago, an Athens patrol officer arrested a UGA student several charges, including underage possession of alcohol.

The officer noticed the young man sitting motionless in front of Joseph E. Brown Hall in a chair and asked from his patrol car if the man was OK. Receiving no response, the officer approached to investigate. The man awoke, staggered and smelled of alcohol, the officer reported.

Both North Carolina and Georgia driver's licenses were in the young man's wallet. The North Carolina license listed the 18-year-old as 21.

The officer then tried to administer a breathalyzer test, but apparently gave up after several attempts because the student wasn't exhaling powerfully enough for the test to work. The officer then charged him with underage possession of alcohol, possession of a fake ID and public intoxication.

After being arrested, the student was transported to jail.

The following evening, a group of pedestrians spotted a young male in the alley behind a bar on E. Clayton St., lying on the ground and coughing. The group hailed a patrol officer who examined the young man. Detecting the odor of alcohol, the officer called for EMS in case of alcohol poisoning.

EMS arrived, placed the man on a stretcher and requested his ID. The man handed over a South Carolina driver's license which the officer discovered was not on file. The man then produced a legitimate Georgia driver's license that showed him to be 19.

In these kinds of cases, the combination of underage drinking and fake ID can lead to real problems. An experienced attorney can help to minimize the legal consequences of these mistakes.

Source: Red and Black: "Crime Notebook, Oct. 14 (w/documents)," Oct. 14, 2011