<p>morganhill: I’m not an attorney in VA, but my understanding is that the VA law is very strict about the defintion of possession. A minor who “possesses” ANY amount of alcohol, is technically a Minor In Possession (MIP) in VA. Your body is considered a “container” and therefore if the police can prove there is alcohol, any alcohol, in your body, then you are in possession. That’s what W&L students have told me they have been told, over and over. </p>
<p>You don’t have to be drunk to be charged or convicted of being a MIP. Even a small amount of alcohol will do it. So kids who have been drinking but are not drunk are not innocent under the law in VA. And I know W&L makes this crystal clear to students at orientation, and their parents at Parent’s Weekend, and on many other occasions. </p>
<p>But yes, it may be that the small-town police force is overly aggressive about cracking down on the Minors in Possession. I do know for a fact that this is true of many other small college town police forces across the country, as mentioned above. </p>
<p>It would be interesting to hear from VA attorneys on this one.</p>