Amends TCA Title 1 and Title 57.

LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES<br /> <br /> Present law provides that any person who is 18 or older has the same rights, duties, and responsibilities as a person who is 21, except as provided in the present law relative to the rights to purchase, possess, transport, and consume any tobacco, smoking hemp, or vapor products or alcoholic beverages, wine, or beer.<br /> <br /> Present law provides it is unlawful for any person under 21 to purchase, possess, transport or consume tobacco, smoking hemp, or vapor products, alcoholic beverages, wine, or beer, with the following exceptions:<br /> <br /> (1) Any person 18 or older may transport, possess, sell, or dispense tobacco, smoking hemp, or vapor products, alcoholic beverages, wine, or beer in the course of such person's employment; and<br /> <br /> (2) A priest or minister may utilize and administer alcohol or wine at a communion service, bat mitzvah, bar mitzvah, or other similar religious service or ceremony, in accordance with the practices of such denomination or sect.<br /> <br /> This bill changes the present law by authorizing, instead, a person 16 or older to transport, possess, sell, and dispense alcoholic beverages, wine, and beer in the course of such person's employment.<br /> <br /> CRIMINAL OFFENSE<br /> <br /> Present law provides it is unlawful for any person under 21 to have in such person's possession or to consume any intoxicating liquor or beer for any purpose, whether the same be possessed or consumed in a dry county or a wet county. It is unlawful for any person under 21 to transport any intoxicating liquor or beer for any purpose, whether the same be transported in a dry or wet county. However, this provision does not prohibit a person 18 or older from transporting, possessing, selling or dispensing intoxicating liquor or beer in the course of such person's employment.<br /> <br /> This bill changes the present law by providing that this provision does not prohibit a person 16 or older from transporting, possessing, selling, or dispensing intoxicating liquor or beer in the course of such person's employment.<br /> <br /> EMPLOYEE PERMIT<br /> <br /> Present law regarding intoxicating liquors authorizes any individual to be eligible for an employee permit by completing an application for such a permit on the forms provided by the alcoholic beverage commission ("commission"). An applicant for an employee permit must demonstrate to the commission that the applicant is at least 18. This bill changes the present law by requiring, instead, an applicant for an employee permit to demonstrate to the commission that the applicant is at least 16.<br /> <br /> SERVER PERMIT<br /> <br /> Present law authorizes an individual to be eligible for a server permit by completing an application for such a permit on the forms provided by the commission. An applicant for a server permit must demonstrate to the commission that the applicant is at least 18. This bill changes the present law by requiring, instead, an applicant for a server permit to demonstrate to the commission that the applicant is at least 16.<br /> <br /> PROHIBITED PRACTICES<br /> <br /> Present law provides that a person under 21 who purchases, attempts to purchase, receives, or has in such person's possession in any public place, any alcoholic beverage, commits a Class A misdemeanor. A court in which a person younger than 21 is so convicted, or the making of a false statement or exhibition of false identification for the purpose of purchasing or obtaining alcoholic beverages in violation of the present law, must prepare and send to the department of safety, driver control division, within five working days of the conviction an order of denial of driving privileges for the offender. However, this provision does not prohibit a person 18 or older from selling, transporting, possessing or dispensing alcoholic beverages in the course of such person's employment. This bill changes the present law by providing that this provision does not prohibit a person 16 or older from selling, transporting, possessing, or dispensing alcoholic beverages in the course of such person's employment. <br />