California Alcoholic Beverage Control Act ("ABC Act")

§ 25657.

It is unlawful:

(a) For any person to employ, upon any licensed on-sale premises, any person for the purpose of procuring or encouraging the purchase or sale of alcoholic beverages, or to pay any such person a percentage or commission on the sale of alcoholic beverages for procuring or encouraging the purchase or sale of alcoholic beverages on such premises.

(b) In any place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed upon the premises, to employ or knowingly permit anyone to loiter in or about said premises for the purpose of begging or soliciting any patron or customer of, or visitor in, such premises to purchase any alcoholic beverages for the one begging or soliciting.

Every person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Amended by Stats. 1971, Ch. 151.)

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§ 25658.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (c), every person who sells, furnishes, gives, or causes to be sold, furnished, or given away any alcoholic beverage to any person under 21 years of age is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(b) Except as provided in Section 25667 or 25668, any person under 21 years of age who purchases any alcoholic beverage, or any person under 21 years of age who consumes any alcoholic beverage in any on-sale premises, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(c) Any person who violates subdivision (a) by purchasing any alcoholic beverage for, or furnishing, giving, or giving away any alcoholic beverage to, a person under 21 years of age, and the person under 21 years of age thereafter consumes the alcohol and thereby proximately causes great bodily injury or death to themselves or any other person, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(d) Any on-sale licensee who knowingly permits a person under 21 years of age to consume any alcoholic beverage in the on-sale premises, whether or not the licensee has knowledge that the person is under 21 years of age, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(e)

1. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) or (3), or Section 25667 or 25668, any person who violates this section shall be punished by a fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250), no part of which shall be suspended, or the person shall be required to perform not less than 24 hours or more than 32 hours of community service during hours when the person is not employed and is not attending school, or a combination of a fine and community service as determined by the court. A second or subsequent violation of subdivision (b), where prosecution of the previous violation was not barred pursuant to Section 25667 or 25668, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or the person shall be required to perform not less than 36 hours or more than 48 hours of community service during hours when the person is not employed and is not attending school, or a combination of a fine and community service as determined by the court. It is the intent of the Legislature that the community service requirements prescribed in this section require service at an alcohol or drug treatment program or facility or at a county coroner’s office, if available, in the area where the violation occurred or where the person resides.
2. Except as provided in paragraph (3), any person who violates subdivision (a) by furnishing an alcoholic beverage, or causing an alcoholic beverage to be furnished, to a minor shall be punished by a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000), no part of which shall be suspended, and the person shall be required to perform not less than 24 hours of community service during hours when the person is not employed and is not attending school.
3. Any person who violates subdivision (c) shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail for a minimum term of six months not to exceed one year, by a fine of three thousand dollars ($3,000), or by both imprisonment and fine.

(f) Persons under 21 years of age may be used by peace officers in the enforcement of this section to apprehend licensees, or employees or agents of licensees, or other persons who sell or furnish alcoholic beverages to minors. Notwithstanding subdivision (b), any person under 21 years of age who purchases or attempts to purchase any alcoholic beverage while under the direction of a peace officer is immune from prosecution for that purchase or attempt to purchase an alcoholic beverage. Guidelines with respect to the use of persons under 21 years of age as decoys shall be adopted and published by the department in accordance with the rulemaking portion of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). Law enforcement-initiated minor decoy programs in operation prior to the effective date of regulatory guidelines adopted by the department shall be authorized as long as the minor decoy displays to the seller of alcoholic beverages the appearance of a person under 21 years of age. This subdivision shall not be construed to prevent the department from taking disciplinary action against a licensee who sells alcoholic beverages to a minor decoy prior to the department’s final adoption of regulatory guidelines. After the completion of every minor decoy program performed under this subdivision, the law enforcement agency using the decoy shall notify licensees within 72 hours of the results of the program. When the use of a minor decoy results in the issuance of a citation, the notification required shall be given to licensees and the department within 72 hours of the issuance of the citation. A law enforcement agency may comply with this requirement by leaving a written notice at the licensed premises addressed to the licensee, or by mailing a notice addressed to the licensee.

(g) The penalties imposed by this section do not preclude prosecution or the imposition of penalties under any other provision of law, including, but not limited to, Section 272 of the Penal Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 613, Sec. 3. (SB 498) Effective January 1, 2024.)

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§ 25658.1.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this division, no licensee may petition the department for an offer in compromise pursuant to Section 23095 for a third or any subsequent violation of Section 25658 that occurs within 36 months of the initial violation.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 24200, the department may revoke a license for a third violation of Section 25658 that occurs within any 36-month period. This provision shall not be construed to limit the department’s authority and discretion to revoke a license prior to a third violation when the circumstances warrant that penalty.

(c) For purposes of this section, no violation may be considered for purposes of determination of the penalty until it has become final.

(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 227, Sec. 8. Effective August 16, 2004.)

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§ 25658.2.

(a) A parent or legal guardian who knowingly permits his or her child, or a person in the company of the child, or both, who are under the age of 18 years, to consume an alcoholic beverage or use a controlled substance at the home of the parent or legal guardian is guilty of misdemeanor if all of the following occur:

1. As the result of the consumption of an alcoholic beverage or use of a controlled substance at the home of the parent or legal guardian, the child or other underage person has a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.05 percent or greater, as measured by a chemical test, or is under the influence of a controlled substance.
2. The parent knowingly permits that child or other underage person, after leaving the parent’s or legal guardian’s home, to drive a vehicle.
3. That child or underage person is found to have caused a traffic collision while driving the vehicle.

(b) A person who violates subdivision (a) shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail for a term not to exceed one year, by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both imprisonment and fine.

(Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 625, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2004.)

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§ 25658.4.

(a) No clerk shall make an off sale of alcoholic beverages unless the clerk executes under penalty of perjury on the first day of that sale an application and acknowledgment. The application and acknowledgment shall be in a form understandable to the clerk.

1. The department shall specify the form of the application and acknowledgment, which shall include at a minimum a summary of this division pertaining to the following:
   1. The prohibitions contained in Sections 25658 and 25658.5 pertaining to the sale to, and purchase of, alcoholic beverages by persons under 21 years of age.
   2. Bona fide evidence of majority as provided in Section 25660.
   3. Hours of operation as provided in Article 2 (commencing with Section 25631).
   4. The prohibitions contained in subdivision (a) of Section 25602 and Section 25602.1 pertaining to sales to an intoxicated person.
   5. Sections 23393 and 23394 as they pertain to on-premises consumption of alcoholic beverages in an off-sale premises.
   6. The requirements and prohibitions contained in Section 25659.5 pertaining to sales of keg beer for consumption off licensed premises.
2. The application and acknowledgment shall also include a statement that the clerk has read and understands the summary, a statement that the clerk has never been convicted of violating this division or, if convicted, an explanation of the circumstances of each conviction, and a statement that the application and acknowledgment is executed under penalty of perjury.
3. The licensee shall keep the executed application and acknowledgment on the premises at all times and available for inspection by the department. A licensee with more than one licensed off-sale premises in the state may comply with this subdivision by maintaining an executed application and acknowledgment at a designated licensed premises, regional office, or headquarters office in the state. An executed application and acknowledgment maintained at the designated locations shall be valid for all licensed off-sale premises owned by the licensee. Any licensee maintaining an application and acknowledgment at a designated site other than the individual licensed off-sale premises shall notify the department in advance and in writing of the site where the application and acknowledgment shall be maintained and available for inspection. A licensee electing to maintain an application and acknowledgments at a designated site other than the licensed premises shall maintain at each licensed premises a notice of where the executed application and acknowledgments are located. Any licensee with more than one licensed off-sale premises who elects to maintain the application and acknowledgments at a designated site other than each licensed premises shall provide the department, upon written demand, a copy of any employee’s executed application and acknowledgment within 10 business days. A violation of this subdivision by a licensee constitutes grounds for discipline by the department.

(b) The licensee shall post a notice that contains and describes, in concise terms, prohibited sales of alcoholic beverages, a statement that the off-sale seller will refuse to make a sale if the seller reasonably suspects that the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act may be violated. The notice shall be posted at an entrance or at a point of sale in the licensed premises or in any other location that is visible to purchasers of alcoholic beverages and to the off-sale seller.

(c) A retail licensee shall post a notice that contains and describes, in concise terms, the fines and penalties for any violation of Section 25658, relating to the sale of alcoholic beverages to, or the purchase of alcoholic beverages by, any person under 21 years of age.

(d) Nonprofit organizations or licensees may obtain video recordings and other training materials from the department on the Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs (LEAD) program. The video recordings and training materials may be updated periodically and may be provided in English and other languages, and when made available by the department, shall be provided at cost.

(e) As used in this section:

1. “Off-sale seller” means any person holding a retail off-sale license issued by the department and any person employed by that licensee who in the course of that employment sells alcoholic beverages.
2. “Clerk” means an off-sale seller who is not a licensee.

(f) The department may adopt rules and appropriate fees for licensees that it determines necessary for the administration of this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 505, Sec. 2. (SB 485) Effective January 1, 2020.)

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§ 25658.5.

(a) Any person under 21 years of age who attempts to purchase any alcoholic beverage from a licensee, or the licensee’s agent or employee, is guilty of an infraction and shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250), or the person shall be required to perform not less than 24 hours or more than 32 hours of community service during hours when the person is not employed or is not attending school, or a combination of fine and community service as determined by the court. A second or subsequent violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or the person shall be required to perform not less than 36 hours or more than 48 hours of community service during hours when the person is not employed or is not attending school, or a combination of fine and community service, as the court deems just. It is the intent of the Legislature that the community service requirements prescribed in this section require service at an alcohol or drug treatment program or facility or at a county coroner’s office, if available, in the area where the violation occurred or where the person resides.

(b) The penalties imposed by this section do not preclude prosecution or the imposition of penalties under any other provision of law.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 505, Sec. 3. (SB 485) Effective January 1, 2020.)

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§ 25659.

For the purpose of preventing the violation of Section 25658, any licensee, or his or her agent or employee, may refuse to sell or serve alcoholic beverages to any person who is unable to produce adequate written evidence that he or she is over the age of 21 years. A licensee, or his or her agent or employee, may seize any identification presented by a person that shows the person to be under the age of 21 years or that is false, so long as a receipt is given to the person from whom the identification is seized and the seized identification is given within 24 hours of seizure to the local law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the licensed premises. A licensee, his or her agent or employees decision to not seize a license shall not create any civil or criminal liability.

(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 565, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1999.)

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§ 25659.5.

(a) Retail licensees selling keg beer for consumption off licensed premises shall place an identification tag on all kegs of beer at the time of sale and shall require the signing of a receipt for the keg of beer by the purchaser in order to allow kegs to be traced if the contents are used in violation of this article. The keg identification shall be in the form of a numbered label prescribed and supplied by the department that identifies the seller. The receipt shall be on a form prescribed and supplied by the department and shall include the name and address of the purchaser and the purchaser’s driver’s license number or equivalent form of identification number. A retailer shall not return any deposit upon the return of any keg that does not have the identification label required pursuant to subdivision (a).

(b) Any licensee selling keg beer for off premise consumption who fails to require the signing of a receipt at the time of sale and fails to place a numbered identification label on the keg shall be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to this division. The licensee shall retain a copy of the receipt, which shall be retained on the licensed premise for a period of six months. The receipt records shall be available for inspection and copying by the department or other authorized law enforcement agency.

(c) Possession of a keg containing beer with knowledge that the keg is not identified as required by subdivision (a) is a misdemeanor.

(d) Any purchaser of keg beer who knowingly provides false information as required by subdivision (a) is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(e) The identification label required pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be constructed of material and made attachable in such a manner as to make the label easily removable for the purpose of cleaning and reusing the keg by a beer manufacturer.

(f) The department is authorized to charge fees for supplying receipt forms and identification labels pursuant to subdivision (a). The fees for receipt forms and identification labels shall be ten dollars ($10) and twenty-five dollars ($25), respectively, and may be adjusted by the department pursuant to subdivisions (d) and (e) of Section 23320. Fees collected pursuant to this subdivision shall be deposited in the Alcohol Beverage Control Fund.

(g) As used in this section, “keg” means any brewery-sealed, individual container of beer having a liquid capacity of six gallons or more.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 29, Sec. 71. (SB 82) Effective June 27, 2019.)

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§ 25660.

(a) Bona fide evidence of majority and identity of the person is any of the following:

1. A document issued by a federal, state, county, or municipal government, or subdivision or agency thereof, including, but not limited to, a valid motor vehicle operator’s license, that contains the name, date of birth, description, and picture of the person.
2. A valid passport issued by the United States or by a foreign government.
3. A valid identification card issued to a member of the Armed Forces that includes a date of birth and a picture of the person.

(b) Proof that the defendant-licensee, or his or her employee or agent, demanded, was shown, and acted in reliance upon bona fide evidence in any transaction, employment, use, or permission forbidden by Section 25658, 25663, or 25665 shall be a defense to any criminal prosecution therefor or to any proceedings for the suspension or revocation of any license based thereon.

(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 165, Sec. 1. (AB 1896) Effective January 1, 2011.)

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§ 25660.5.

Any person who sells, gives, or furnishes to any person under the age of 21 years any false or fraudulent written, printed, or photostatic evidence of the majority and identity of such person or who sells, gives or furnishes to any person under the age of 21 years evidence of majority and identification of any other person is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Amended by Stats. 1965, Ch. 1216.)

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§ 25661.

(a) Any person under 21 years of age who presents or offers to any licensee, or agent or employee of a licensee, any written, printed, or photostatic evidence of age and identity which is false, fraudulent or not actually their own for the purpose of ordering, purchasing, attempting to purchase or otherwise procuring or attempting to procure, the serving of any alcoholic beverage, or who possesses any false or fraudulent written, printed, or photostatic evidence of age and identity, is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of at least two hundred fifty dollars ($250), no part of which shall be suspended; or the person shall be required to perform not less than 24 hours nor more than 32 hours of community service during hours when the person is not employed and is not attending school, or a combination of fine and community service as determined by the court. A second or subsequent violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or the person shall be required to perform not less than 36 hours or more than 48 hours of community service during hours when the person is not employed or is not attending school, or a combination of fine and community service, as the court deems just. It is the intent of the Legislature that the community service requirements prescribed in this section require service at an alcohol or drug treatment program or facility or at a county coroner’s office, if available, in the area where the violation occurred or where the person resides.

(b) The penalties imposed by this section do not preclude prosecution or the imposition of penalties under any other provision of law.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 505, Sec. 4. (SB 485) Effective January 1, 2020.)

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§ 25662.

(a) Except as provided in Section 25667 or 25668, any person under 21 years of age who possesses any alcoholic beverage on any street or highway or in any public place or in any place open to the public is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) or the person shall be required to perform not less than 24 hours or more than 32 hours of community service during hours when the person is not employed or is not attending school. A second or subsequent violation shall be punishable as a misdemeanor and the person shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or required to perform not less than 36 hours or more than 48 hours of community service during hours when the person is not employed or is not attending school, or a combination of fine and community service as the court deems just. It is the intent of the Legislature that the community service requirements prescribed in this section require service at an alcohol or drug treatment program or facility or at a county coroner’s office, if available, in the area where the violation occurred or where the person resides. This section does not apply to possession by a person under 21 years of age making a delivery of an alcoholic beverage in pursuance of the order of a parent, responsible adult relative, or any other adult designated by the parent or legal guardian, or in pursuance of employment. That person shall have a complete defense if they were following, in a timely manner, the reasonable instructions of a parent, legal guardian, responsible adult relative, or adult designee relating to disposition of the alcoholic beverage.

(b) Unless otherwise provided by law, where a peace officer has lawfully entered the premises, the peace officer may seize any alcoholic beverage in plain view that is in the possession of, or provided to, a person under 21 years of age at social gatherings, when those gatherings are open to the public, 10 or more persons under 21 years of age are participating, persons under 21 years of age are consuming alcoholic beverages, and there is no supervision of the social gathering by a parent or guardian of one or more of the participants.

Where a peace officer has seized alcoholic beverages pursuant to this subdivision, the officer may destroy any alcoholic beverage contained in an opened container and in the possession of, or provided to, a person under 21 years of age, and, with respect to alcoholic beverages in unopened containers, the officer shall impound those beverages for a period not to exceed seven working days pending a request for the release of those beverages by a person 21 years of age or older who is the lawful owner or resident of the property upon which the alcoholic beverages were seized. If no one requests release of the seized alcoholic beverages within that period, those beverages may be destroyed.

(c) The penalties imposed by this section do not preclude prosecution or the imposition of penalties under any other provision of law.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 505, Sec. 5. (SB 485) Effective January 1, 2020.)

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§ 25663.

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (c), no licensee that sells or serves alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises shall employ any person under 21 years of age for the purpose of preparing or serving alcoholic beverages. Every person who employs or uses the services of any person under the age of 21 years in or on that portion of any premises, during business hours, which are primarily designed and used for the sale and service of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(b) Any off-sale licensee who employs or uses the services of any person under the age of 18 years for the sale of alcoholic beverages shall be subject to suspension or revocation of his or her license, except that a person under the age of 18 years may be employed or used for those purposes if that person is under the continuous supervision of a person 21 years of age or older.

(c) Any person between 18 and 21 years of age employed in any bona fide public eating place, as defined in Sections 23038 and 23038.1, which is licensed for the on-sale of alcoholic beverages, may serve alcoholic beverages to consumers only under the following circumstances: such service occurs in an area primarily designed and used for the sale and service of food for consumption on the premises; and the primary duties of the employee shall be the service of meals to guests, with the service of alcoholic beverages being incidental to such duties. For purposes of this subdivision, “serve” or “service” includes the delivery, presentation, opening, or pouring of an alcoholic beverage.

(Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 508, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2009.)

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§ 25663.5.

Notwithstanding Section 25663 or any other provision of law, persons 18 to 21 years of age may be employed as musicians, for entertainment purposes only, during business hours on premises which are primarily designed and used for the sale and service of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, if live acts, demonstrations, or exhibitions which involve the exposure of the private parts or buttocks of any participant or the breasts of any female participant are not allowed on such premises. However, the area of such employment shall be limited to a portion of the premises that is restricted to the use exclusively of musicians or entertainers in the performance of their functions, and no alcoholic beverages shall be sold, served, consumed, or taken into that area.

(Added by Stats. 1971, Ch. 1761.)

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§ 25664.

(a)

1. The use, in any advertisement of alcoholic beverages, of any subject matter, language, or slogan addressed to and intended to encourage minors to drink the alcoholic beverages, is prohibited.
2. Signage or flyers advertising an establishment that serves alcoholic beverages to individuals under the age of 21 years are prohibited under paragraph (1) if one of the establishment’s principal business activities is the selling of alcoholic beverages, and the advertisement expressly states that the jurisdiction in which the establishment is located has a legal drinking age of under 21 years or that individuals under the age of 21 years may patronize the establishment.
3. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to restrict or prohibit any advertisement of alcoholic beverages to those persons of legal drinking age.

(b) The department may adopt rules as it determines to be necessary for the administration of this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 771, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2004.)

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§ 25665.

Any licensee under an on-sale license issued for public premises, as defined in Section 23039, who permits a person under the age of 21 years to enter and remain in the licensed premises without lawful business therein is guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person under the age of 21 years who enters and remains in the licensed public premises without lawful business therein is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200), no part of which shall be suspended.

(Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 1092, Sec. 65. Effective September 27, 1983. Operative January 1, 1984, by Sec. 427 of Ch. 1092.)

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§ 25666.

(a) In a hearing on an accusation charging a licensee with a violation of Section 25658, the department shall produce the minor decoy alleged in the accusation for examination at the hearing unless the minor decoy is unavailable as a witness because they are dead or unable to attend the hearing because of a then-existing physical or mental illness or infirmity, or unless the licensee has waived, in writing, the appearance of the minor decoy. When a minor decoy is absent because of a then-existing physical or mental illness or infirmity, a reasonable continuance shall be granted to allow for the appearance of the minor decoy if the administrative law judge finds that it is reasonably likely that the minor decoy can be produced within a reasonable amount of time.

(b)

1. Nothing in this section shall prevent the department from taking testimony of the minor decoy as provided in Section 11511 of the Government Code.
2. This section is not intended to preclude the continuance of a hearing because of the unavailability of a minor decoy for any other reason pursuant to Section 11524 of the Government Code.

(c) For purposes of this section, “minor decoy” means a person under 21 years of age used by peace officers in the enforcement of Section 25658 to apprehend licensees, or employees or agents of licensees, or other persons who sell or furnish alcoholic beverages to minors.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 208, Sec. 1. (AB 1275) Effective January 1, 2022.)

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§ 25666.5.

If a person is convicted of a violation of subdivision (b) of Section 25658, or Section 25658.5, 25661, or 25662 and is granted probation, the court may order, with the consent of the defendant, as a term and condition of probation, in addition to any other term and condition required or authorized by law, that the defendant participate in the program prescribed in Article 3 (commencing with Section 23509) of Chapter 12 of Division 11.5 of the Vehicle Code.

(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 118, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1999. Operative July 1, 1999, by Sec. 85 of Ch. 118.)

§ 25667.

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(a) Any person under the age of 21 years shall be immune from criminal prosecution under subdivision (a) of Section 25662 and subdivision (b) of Section 25658, where the person establishes all of the following:

1. The underage person called 911 and reported that either himself or herself or another person was in need of medical assistance due to alcohol consumption.
2. The underage person was the first person to make the 911 report.
3. The underage person, who reported that another person was in need of medical assistance, remained on the scene with the other person until that medical assistance arrived and cooperated with medical assistance and law enforcement personnel on the scene.

(b) This section shall not provide immunity from criminal prosecution for any offense that involves activities made dangerous by the consumption of alcoholic beverages, including, but not limited to, a violation of Section 23103 of the Vehicle Code, as specified by Section 23103.5 of the Vehicle Code, or a violation of Sections 23152 and 23153 of the Vehicle Code.

(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 245, Sec. 3. (AB 1999) Effective January 1, 2011.)

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§ 25668.

(a) A qualified student may taste an alcoholic beverage, and both the student and the qualified academic institution in which the student is enrolled shall not be subject to criminal prosecution under subdivision (a) of Section 25658 and subdivision (a) of Section 25662, if all of the following criteria are met:

1. The qualified student tastes the alcoholic beverage while enrolled in a qualified academic institution.
2. The qualified academic institution has established an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree program in any of the following:
   1. Hotel management.
   2. Culinary arts.
   3. Enology or brewing that is designed to train industry professionals in the production of wine or beer.
3. The qualified student tastes the alcoholic beverage for educational purposes as part of the instruction in a course required for an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree.
4. The alcoholic beverage remains in the control of an authorized instructor of the qualified academic institution who is at least 21 years of age.

(b) This section shall not be construed to allow a student under 21 years of age to receive an alcoholic beverage unless it is delivered as part of the student’s curriculum requirements.

(c) A license or permit is not required to be held by a qualified academic institution engaging in the activities authorized by this section, provided an extra fee or charge is not imposed for the alcoholic beverages tasted.

(d) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

1. “Qualified academic institution” means a public college or university accredited by a commission recognized by the United States Department of Education.
2. “Qualified student” means a student enrolled in a qualified academic institution who is at least 18 years of age.
3. “Taste” means to draw an alcoholic beverage into the mouth, but does not include swallowing or otherwise consuming the alcoholic beverage.

(Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 370, Sec. 20. (SB 1371) Effective January 1, 2021.)

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