Any criminal action, even those represented by a seemingly benign “ticket” in the “municipal court” should be treated seriously and if faced with such a ticket one should consult with a criminal defense lawyer. Generally your future and your life will not be “ruined” by a single mistake even though it involves alcohol possession (or drugs as referenced above). However hiring a lawyer is important and, in my opinion, mandatory because most people (young or old) are not experts at criminal procedure or criminal defense matters. Most people are not acquainted with the long term problems that might arise if your charges are not handled properly. Therefore consulting with and hiring an experience criminal defense lawyer is mandatory and well worth the expense and time associated therewith. One’s life is not ruined if arrested for an alcohol violation but the case must be handled correctly so as to not create a permanent blemish upon an otherwise clean criminal record.