Alcoholic beverage control: proof of age.

The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act makes it a misdemeanor for any person under the age of 21 years to purchase any alcoholic beverage or consume any alcoholic beverage in any on‑sale premises. The act also subjects a holder of a license to sell alcoholic beverages to criminal prosecution and suspension or revocation of that license if the licensee sells any alcoholic beverages to any person under the age of 21 years. Existing law provides that a licensee's acceptance of bona fide evidence, as defined, constitutes a defense to any action against the licensee. Existing law requires that evidence to contain a description of the person. Existing law includes, as bona fide evidence of age, a military identification card issued to a member of the Armed Forces that contains, among other things, a description of the cardholder. Existing law also provides, however, that, if the military identification card lacks a physical description but does include date of birth and a photo, further proof of age is not required. This bill would revise the provision relating to the use of military identification cards as proof of age for purposes of purchasing or consuming alcoholic beverages, to directly specify that a valid identification card issued to a member of the Armed Forces that includes the date of birth and a photo of the person would, under all circumstances, constitute bona fide evidence of age.