Underage drinkers: students in winemaking and brewery science programs.

The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act provides that any person under 21 years of age who purchases any alcoholic beverage, who consumes any alcoholic beverage in any on-sale premises, or who possesses any alcoholic beverage on any street or highway or in any public place or any place open to the public is guilty of a misdemeanor. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act provides that 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. This bill would allow a qualified student to taste an alcoholic beverage and exempt the student and the qualified academic institution in which the student is enrolled from criminal prosecution under the above-described provisions, as provided. The bill would define the terms "qualified academic institution," "qualified student," and "taste" for the purposes of this provision.