The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (APOC) tracked 2017–2021 citation records for underage drinking. The data show where Montgomery County ranks for the unsafe, illegal practice. Carl Hessler, Jr., presented the data in The Reporter.
The analysis covered only the issuance of citations for residents under the age of 21 who are caught possessing, consuming, transporting, purchasing, or attempt to purchase alcohol.
During the five years analyzed 45,402 citations were distributed statewide, according to APOC data.
The Montgomery County subset of that total was 2,138, about 4.7 percent. That rate landed the county in the No. 5 position for offenses across Pennsylvania.
The data from nearby counties yielded the following statistics:
| Geography | Total Citations | Statewide Percentage | Rank |
| Chester County | 2,833 | 10.40 | No. 3 |
| Delaware County | 2,225 | 4.90 | No. 4 |
| Philadelphia | 1,852 | 4.08 | No. 6 |
| Bucks County | 1,466 | 3.23 | No. 8 |
The most law-abiding county in the state with regard to underage drinking was Sullivan, with only six citations. It lies west of Scranton but east of Williamsport.
More on the state’s citations for underage drinking by county is at The Reporter.
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In addition to legal risks of underage drinking, there are health concerns as well, outlined here.
