# News story - cops arrest kids for underage drinking after seeing Facebook picture - really? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 28, 2009, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-story-cops-arrest-kids-for-underage-drinking-after-seeing-facebook-picture-really/519210 "2009-11-28T06:00:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-story-cops-arrest-kids-for-underage-drinking-after-seeing-facebook-picture-really/519210/1 "2009-11-28T06:00:05Z")
[Lacrosse Tribune Article](http://www.lacrossetribune.com/news/local/article_0ff40f7a-d4d1-11de-afb3-001cc4c002e0.html) - apparently a University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student was ticketed for underage drinking after he was friended on Facebook, and the cop giving him the ticket had Facebook pictures of him holding a beer. He was one of at least eight people who were cited for underage drinking based on social networking sites, according to the article. Does this seem likely to you? Are there policemen in the U.S. spending their time looking at Facebook sites just to ticket underage drinkers? Have you ever heard of this from any other source? This seems highly unlikely to me, but maybe I don’t have a very good handle on what cops spend their time on. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-story-cops-arrest-kids-for-underage-drinking-after-seeing-facebook-picture-really/519210/2 "2009-11-28T06:18:36Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Does this seem likely to you? Are there policemen in the U.S. spending their time looking at Facebook sites just to ticket underage drinkers? Some jurisdictions [have their own Facebook page for catching criminals](http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/ohio-news/ohio-police-agency-searches-facebook-for-fugitives-401978.html) so why not? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-story-cops-arrest-kids-for-underage-drinking-after-seeing-facebook-picture-really/519210/3 "2009-11-28T06:22:29Z")
I can see using social sites for catching fugitives, but underage drinking? This is a crime that is taken so seriously that police resources must be used to fight it? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-story-cops-arrest-kids-for-underage-drinking-after-seeing-facebook-picture-really/519210/4 "2009-11-28T06:37:53Z")
Probably was something they found while looking for other things, such as [possible scammers](http://www.thestar.com/news/sciencetech/technology/facebook/article/730166--why-you-should-never-post-your-vacation-pics-on-facebook). ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-story-cops-arrest-kids-for-underage-drinking-after-seeing-facebook-picture-really/519210/5 "2009-11-28T09:32:39Z")
This doesn’t seem right to me. Wouldn’t the cop have to catch the kid in the act? And besides, a picture of someone holding a beer doesn’t prove the person is actually drinking it. My parents have a picture of me at three years old holding an empty beer bottle, pretending to drink from it. I shudder to think what might happen if it ever fell into the hands of the law… hopefully the statute of limitations has expired! ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-story-cops-arrest-kids-for-underage-drinking-after-seeing-facebook-picture-really/519210/6 "2009-11-28T10:35:26Z")
One part of me says “Good on you,” I’ve seen too much damage done by young underage drinking. Of course I’ve seen just as much damage by older people drinking too 🙂 On the other hand I hope the case would get thrown out. I would like to think it’s a wake up call to young people. So I can see both sides ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-story-cops-arrest-kids-for-underage-drinking-after-seeing-facebook-picture-really/519210/7 "2009-11-28T11:25:30Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I can see using social sites for catching fugitives, but underage drinking? This is a crime that is taken so seriously that police resources must be used to fight it? The article doesn’t say, but I suspect U of Wisconsin has a dedicated campus police force, in which case, combating under-age drinking and associated problems is basically their job description. In anycase, its not like it takes a swat team and a million dollars to flip through facebook photos and issue some tickets. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-story-cops-arrest-kids-for-underage-drinking-after-seeing-facebook-picture-really/519210/8 "2009-11-28T12:32:36Z")
A photo is proof of possession, to _some_ extent, but it’s not proof of consumption. If the law is against any possession, then there might be a case. If the law is against consumption, this is going to get thrown out of court and hopefully law enforcement involved will be given the what for for wasting resources this way. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-story-cops-arrest-kids-for-underage-drinking-after-seeing-facebook-picture-really/519210/9 "2009-11-28T13:57:56Z")
> [@tumbleddown](#): > > A photo is proof of possession, to _some_ extent, but it’s not proof of consumption. If the law is against any possession, then there might be a case. If the law is against consumption, this is going to get thrown out of court and hopefully law enforcement involved will be given the what for for wasting resources this way. Proof of possession of _something_. Can they show it is indeed beer? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-story-cops-arrest-kids-for-underage-drinking-after-seeing-facebook-picture-really/519210/10 "2009-11-28T14:47:49Z")
Remember what happened here in my fair city with Michael Phelps and a little bit of pot? Of course, that was a grandstanding sheriff, but same idea. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-story-cops-arrest-kids-for-underage-drinking-after-seeing-facebook-picture-really/519210/11 "2009-11-28T15:40:17Z")
I’m hard-pressed to imagine how a photograph could be solid evidence of possession or consumption of alcohol. Of a bottle or can that is labeled as containing alcohol, or of a liquid that looks like it’s alcoholic, okay, but actual alcohol itself? They were practicing for a play, using props and water (colored if necessary). The photograph doesn’t prove a thing. How could one get convicted if they fought it instead of rolling over and paying the fine? ---
**Author:** ![MN\_Maenad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@MN\_Maenad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MN_Maenad)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-story-cops-arrest-kids-for-underage-drinking-after-seeing-facebook-picture-really/519210/12 "2009-11-28T22:16:32Z")
It’s photographic evidence of a crime posted in a public forum. I guess some people need to learn the hard way. A $227 fine is really a small price to pay for their carelessness. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-story-cops-arrest-kids-for-underage-drinking-after-seeing-facebook-picture-really/519210/13 "2009-11-28T22:29:35Z")
I doubt they’ll ever have to pay a fine. As others have stated, the photo isn’t proof of much, if the cop wasn’t there to observe criminal activity. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-story-cops-arrest-kids-for-underage-drinking-after-seeing-facebook-picture-really/519210/14 "2009-11-28T22:52:18Z")
> [@MN\_Maenad](#): > > It’s photographic evidence of a crime posted in a public forum. I guess some people need to learn the hard way. You’re able to **prove** , from a photograph, that the liquid actually contains alcohol? What percentage of alcohol is in the liquid? ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-story-cops-arrest-kids-for-underage-drinking-after-seeing-facebook-picture-really/519210/15 "2009-11-28T23:25:59Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I doubt they’ll ever have to pay a fine. As others have stated, the photo isn’t proof of much, if the cop wasn’t there to observe criminal activity. He already pled no contest. > [@zenbeam](#): > > You’re able to prove, from a photograph, that the liquid actually contains alcohol? What percentage of alcohol is in the liquid? You mean, prove like mathematically? like the lengths of the sides of a right triangle? probably not. But prove to the satisfaction of the court that the liquid in the beer can he was drinking at a college party was in fact beer, with alcohol and everything. Probably. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2009, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-story-cops-arrest-kids-for-underage-drinking-after-seeing-facebook-picture-really/519210/16 "2009-11-29T00:50:53Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > But prove to the satisfaction of the court that the liquid in the beer can he was drinking at a college party was in fact beer, with alcohol and everything. Probably. Perhaps it was O’Douls. What percentage of alcohol was in the beverage shown in the photograph? ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2009, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-story-cops-arrest-kids-for-underage-drinking-after-seeing-facebook-picture-really/519210/17 "2009-11-29T00:59:31Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > He already pled no contest. > > You mean, prove like mathematically? like the lengths of the sides of a right triangle? probably not. But prove to the satisfaction of the court that the liquid in the beer can he was drinking at a college party was in fact beer, with alcohol and everything. Probably. I would think that most first year law students would have been able to get an aquittal if the case went to trial… ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2009, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-story-cops-arrest-kids-for-underage-drinking-after-seeing-facebook-picture-really/519210/18 "2009-11-29T02:32:06Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > I would think that most first year law students would have been able to get an aquittal if the case went to trial… How? I mean, presuming the picture clearly shows him drinking out of a beer bottle at a party, what exactly is he going to claim? Someone photoshopped the beer bottle into his hand and broke into his facebook account to post it in his album? Someone above thought he could say he was in a play, but plays have audiences and performances and such, is he going to get a bunch of people to perjure themselves and say that they saw some play and work to make sure they agree on the details, assuming he himself is willing to commit perjury to get out of a $200 dollar fine. > [@zenbeam](#): > > Perhaps it was O’Douls. What percentage of alcohol was in the beverage shown in the photograph? They said there were several pictures, presumably they could identify the beverage as alcoholic. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2009, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-story-cops-arrest-kids-for-underage-drinking-after-seeing-facebook-picture-really/519210/19 "2009-11-29T03:00:57Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > The article doesn’t say, but I suspect U of Wisconsin has a dedicated campus police force, in which case, combating under-age drinking and associated problems is basically their job description. > > In anycase, its not like it takes a swat team and a million dollars to flip through facebook photos and issue some tickets. I dunno; maybe if it was a campus police doing this, I can see it. I didn’t know campuses had dedicated police forces. Of course, I could be seeing this as much less serious than the campus police do, since the “kids” involved in the story would have been drinking legally in Alberta for two years already. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2009, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-story-cops-arrest-kids-for-underage-drinking-after-seeing-facebook-picture-really/519210/20 "2009-11-29T05:48:53Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > The article doesn’t say, but I suspect U of Wisconsin has a dedicated campus police force, in which case, combating under-age drinking and associated problems is basically their job description. > > In anycase, its not like it takes a swat team and a million dollars to flip through facebook photos and issue some tickets. I attended UW-Madison, and there was a UW police department there that dealt with campus-related crimes. UW-Lacrosse is a smaller school, but Google tells me they do have [University Police](http://www.uwlax.edu/police/) as well. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-story-cops-arrest-kids-for-underage-drinking-after-seeing-facebook-picture-really/519210.md?page=2)