(a) Any person under the age of twenty-one years who purchases, consumes, sells, possesses or serves wine or other alcoholic liquor is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in an amount not to exceed $500 or shall be incarcerated in the county jail for a period not to exceed seventy-two hours, or both fined and imprisoned, or, in lieu of such fine and incarceration, may, for the first offense, be placed on probation for a period not to exceed one year.
Nothing in this article, nor any rule or regulation of the commissioner, shall prevent or be deemed to prohibit any person who is at least eighteen years of age from serving in the lawful employment of any licensee, which may include the sale or delivery of wine as defined in this article. Further, nothing in this article, nor any rule or regulation of the commissioner, shall prevent or be deemed to prohibit any person who is less than eighteen but at least sixteen years of age from being employed by a licensee whose principal business is the sale of food or consumer goods or the providing of recreational activities, including, but not limited to, nationally franchised fast food outlets, family-oriented restaurants, bowling alleys, drug stores, discount stores, grocery stores and convenience stores: Provided, That such person shall not sell or deliver wine or alcoholic liquor.
Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a person who is at least eighteen years of age from purchasing or possessing wine or alcoholic liquor when he or she is acting upon the request of or under the direction and control of any member of a state, federal or local law-enforcement agency or the West Virginia alcohol beverage administration while the agency is conducting an investigation or other activity relating to the enforcement of the alcohol beverage control statutes and the rules and regulations of the commissioner.
(b) Any person under the age of twenty-one years who, for the purpose of purchasing wine or other alcoholic liquors from a licensee, misrepresents his or her age, or who for such purpose presents or offers any written evidence of age which is false, fraudulent or not actually his or her own, or who illegally attempts to purchase wine or other alcoholic liquors, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in an amount not to exceed $50 or shall be imprisoned in the county jail for a period not to exceed seventy-two hours, or both such fine and imprisonment, or, in lieu of such fine and imprisonment, may, for the first offense, be placed on probation for a period not exceeding one year.
(c) Any person who shall knowingly buy for, give to or furnish wine or other alcoholic liquors from any source to anyone under the age of twenty-one to whom they are not related by blood or marriage, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined in an amount not to exceed $100 or shall be imprisoned in the county jail for a period not to exceed ten days, or both such fine and imprisonment.
Structure West Virginia Code
Chapter 60. State Control of Alcoholic Liquors
§60-8-1. Construction and Application of Article
§60-8-3. Licenses; Fees; General Restrictions
§60-8-5. Refund or Credit of Taxes
§60-8-6a. Direct Shipper's License
§60-8-6b. Deliveries by Licensed Wine Specialty Shop
§60-8-16. Application for License
§60-8-17. License Issuance or Refusal; Terms of License
§60-8-19. To Whom Licensed Manufacturer May Sell
§60-8-20. Unlawful Acts Generally
§60-8-20a. Unlawful Acts by Persons
§60-8-21. Sale in Sealed, Labeled Packages Required
§60-8-22. Sales on Credit Prohibited; Exception
§60-8-23. Duties and Powers of Commissioner; Rules
§60-8-24. Disposition of Revenue
§60-8-25. Criminal Penalties; Public Nuisances
§60-8-27. Local Option Elections
§60-8-28. Wine Brand Licensing and Registration and Review of Wine Labels
§60-8-29. Affidavit of Compliance Required of Distributors and Suppliers
§60-8-30. Exclusive Franchise Agreements Prohibited
§60-8-32. Where Wine May Be Sold at Retail
§60-8-32a. Where Wine May Be Sold and Consumed for On-Premises Consumption
§60-8-33. Certain Prohibitions Not Applicable