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:
(A) Hotel management.
(B) Culinary arts.
(C) 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.)
Structure California Code