Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 138, § 34A (2026)

Persons under twenty-one years; purchase or attempt to purchase alcoholic beverages

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 34A. Any person under twenty-one years of age who purchases or attempts to purchase alcoholic beverages or alcohol, or makes arrangements with any person to purchase or in any way procure such beverages, or who willfully misrepresents his age, or in any way alters, defaces or otherwise falsifies his identification offered as proof of age, with the intent of purchasing alcoholic beverages, either for his own use or for the use of any other person shall be punished by a fine of three hundred dollars and whoever knowingly makes a false statement as to the age of a person who is under twenty-one years of age in order to procure a sale or delivery of such beverages or alcohol to such person under twenty-one years of age, either for the use of the person under twenty-one years of age or for the use of some other person, and whoever induces a person under twenty-one years of age to make a false statement as to his age in order to procure a sale or delivery of such beverages or alcohol to such person under twenty-one years of age, shall be punished by a fine of three hundred dollars. A conviction of a violation of this section shall be reported forthwith to the registrar of motor vehicles by the court. Upon receipt of such notice the registrar shall thereupon suspend for 180 days the defendant's license or right to operate a motor vehicle.

The commission shall prepare and distribute to business establishments which sell, serve or otherwise dispense alcohol or alcoholic beverages to the general public, posters to be displayed therein in a conspicuous place. Said posters shall contain a summary and explanation of this section.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 12 cases, 1988–2012 · leading case: Juliano v. Simpson, 461 Mass. 527 (Mass. 2012).

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Juliano v. Simpson, 461 Mass. 527 (Mass. 2012). · cites it 2× “138, § 34 (providing penalties of up to $2,000 and year in prison for persons that furnish alcohol to individuals under age twenty-one); G. L. c. 138, § 34A (imposing penalties on persons under age twenty-one years who purchase or attempt to purchase alcohol, including $300 fine…”

Alioto v. Marnell, 520 N.E.2d 1284 (Mass. 1988). · cites it 2× “See G.L.c. 138, § 34A, as amended through St.”

Cremins v. Clancy, 612 N.E.2d 1183 (Mass. 1993). · cites it 2× “In connection with the Pennsylvania case, the plaintiffs make reference to G.L.c. 138, § 34A (1990 ed.), which makes it a criminal offense for anyone under the age of twenty-one to procure an alcoholic beverage, for his own or for another minor's consumption.”

Panagakos v. Walsh, 434 Mass. 353 (Mass. 2001). · cites it 2× “138, § 34. A knowing misrepresentation as to the age of a person who is under twenty-one years of age in order to procure the sale or delivery of alcohol to that underage person violates G.”

Afarian v. Massachusetts Elec. Co., 449 Mass. 257 (Mass. 2007). “See G. L. c. 138, § 34A. They returned to Massachusetts.”

United States v. Rosalio Correa, 114 F.3d 314 (1st Cir. 1997). “Some months later, Correa, still 19, was charged with falsifying his age to purchase alcoholic beverages, in violation of Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 138, § 34A (1991), and contributing to the delinquency of a child for buying and serving alcohol to two boys, ages 12 and 15,…”

Commonwealth v. Correa, 686 N.E.2d 213 (Mass. App. Ct. 1997). “119, § 63, and falsifying age to purchase alcoholic beverages, G. L. c. 138, § 34A; one complaint charged the defendant with operating a motor vehicle after license or right to operate has been suspended, G.”

Nunez v. Carrabba's Italian Grill, Inc., 859 N.E.2d 801 (Mass. 2007). “138, § 34 (penalties shall be imposed for delivery of alcoholic beverages to patrons of licensed establishments who are under twenty-one years of age); G. L. c. 138, § 34A (persons under twenty-one years of age who attempt to purchase alcohol by misrepresenting their age shall…”

Fran's Lunch, Inc. v. Alcoholic Beverages Control Comm'n, 700 N.E.2d 843 (Mass. App. Ct. 1998). · cites it 3× “The plaintiff claims that the decision must be set aside because, in collecting this evidence, the commission violated G. L. c. 138, § 34A, which prohibits a minor from purchasing liquor either for his own use or for the use of any other person.”

Commonwealth v. Cherubin, 774 N.E.2d 1161 (Mass. App. Ct. 2002). “6 There was testimony that the victim, as well as Gin-ewicz and Fortier, were “buzzed” from drinking beer; that the victim and Ginewicz were both under the legal drinking age, G. L. c. 138, § 34A; and that some of the witnesses attempted to conceal their beer drinking from their…”

Commonwealth v. Kneram, 826 N.E.2d 733 (Mass. App. Ct. 2005). “, G. L. c. 138, § 34A, as amended through St.”

United States v. Patrick, 41 F. Supp. 2d 73 (D. Mass. 1999). “Some months later, Correa, still 19, was charged with falsifying his age to purchase alcoholic beverages, in violation of Mass.Gen.Laws ch. 138, § 34A (1991), and contributing to the delinquency of a child for buying and serving alcohol to two boys, ages 12 and 15 respectively,…”

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