How far back in time do companies go to do a background check?

You bet. Welcome to the security state!

They will say on the background check authorization form how far back they go and what they look for. I believe Its usually 7 years.

Yes – if he was convicted. Fess up. No doubt the company has an account with one of many background checking companies. It will only cost them $10 to find it. The drinking may not disqualify him. But a lie on the application will.

Sadly, there really is a permanent record – and our actions do have consequences.

What was the outcome of the arrest? (That’s a rhetorical question; I’m not asking you to recount your son’s legal history on this forum.)

If the case was dismissed or pleaded down, then that can be an explanatory note to accompany the full disclosure as @LuckyGuy suggests. Not many of us have been so pure as not to have had a drink while underage. The arrest record is unfortunate, but if it wasn’t anything more serious – and if it’s disclosed! – then it shouldn’t hurt.

In fact, he can apparently “maybe do a little blow” and still become President.

I think it can depend on where he lives. In California it is 7 years, but 2 years for marijuana offence. The 7 years can end up being longer if the person was on probation and violated – then the 7 years count can start again from the violation date.

My employer will hire persons with convictions, but it is on a case by case basis, the head of HR and the CEO have to authorize it, and the conviction must have been disclosed on the initial employment application. If it wasn’t on the application and it comes back during the background screen, it is an automatic “no hire.”

I have discovered something with the background screens, and this was true for 3 different screening companies we used: if the applicant had no record of residency or earnings in a county then their conviction in that county didn’t show up.