AB 3117: Alcoholic beverages: evidence of majority and identity.

Existing law, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, establishes the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to prohibit unlicensed manufacturing, selling, and disposing of alcoholic beverages, among other things. Under existing law, it is a misdemeanor for a person under the age of 21 years to purchase or consume an alcoholic beverage, as provided. 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 an alcoholic beverage to a person under the age of 21 years. Existing law specifies documents, including, among others, a valid motor vehicle operators license issued by the state, that are bona fide evidence of majority and identity of a person and makes reliance upon that evidence a defense to a criminal action against the licensee.

Existing law authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles to establish a pilot program to evaluate the use of optional mobile or digital alternatives to drivers licenses and identification cards.

This bill would make a mobile or digital drivers license or identification card bona fide evidence of majority and identity of a person provided the Department of Motor Vehicles authorizes the use of those licenses or identification cards without the possession of a physical drivers license or identification card.