Business and Professions Code (BP) 25658(a): Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor Laws

Legal Definition: Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (c), 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.

For a person to be convicted of a violation of BP 25658, the prosecution must show that:

1. You sold, furnished, gave away, or caused to be sold an alcoholic beverage to another person; AND
2. The person purchasing or receiving the alcohol from you was a minor under the age of 21.

What does this mean?

An alcoholic beverage is a liquid or solid material intended to be consumed that contains one-half of 1 percent or more of alcohol by volume. However, you cannot be found guilty under this section if you reasonably and actually believed the person you are selling the alcohol to is 21 years of age or older. This would mean, that if you are working at a store that sells alcohol, simply looking at a person and judging them to be 21 years old or older, is not a sufficient defense to this charge. Generally, you would be required to ask for an ID of the person anyway, so this wouldn’t help you.

This charge also applies to someone who purchases alcohol for minors, such as in college settings, or an older brother or sister helping high school kids get alcohol. Also, the police may use underage decoys to investigate sales of alcohol to people under 21. This would mean that the person buying alcohol was instructed by police to do so, which would also make you liable under this section.

Think of an example of being an older brother, and purchasing beer for your 19-year-old brother’s party. Police come, break up the party, and the finger is pointed at you as the person who purchased the alcohol for your brother, leading you to get charged under this section since you got the alcohol for your brother’s party, knowing he’s underage.

Penalties

For a first-time offense under the Business and Professions Code 25658(a), it is a misdemeanor. That means you can possibly be sent to jail for a conviction as a first offender for this charge. Your penalties generally are a fine of $1000 and 24 Community Service hours that you must complete. If the minor that consumes alcohol suffers a great bodily injury as a result, you could be sentenced to County Jail for upwards of one year.

This is not a Strike offense, since it is not a felony, and it is not the type of charge that is generally held against you for Professional Licensing or Immigration cases. However, if you run a business that furnished alcohol to a minor, you could lose your liquor license and ability to sell alcohol from your business for the foreseeable future. Not to mention excessive fines to your business that could be added on as well.

Common Defenses

1. Statute of Limitations 
2. Insufficient Evidence
3. Violation of Rights
4. Mistake of Fact

The most common defense used for this charge is the Mistake of Fact Defense. Generally speaking, this charge does not allow the defense that you believed that the minor was actually an adult at the time of the purchase. However, modernly, if a person reasonably and in good faith believed the person to be an adult, it can as a defense to this charge. This can be helpful if you run a business and are given a fake ID or some documentation that shows the minor to be older than they are.

Clearly, in a sting operation, the goal would be for the minor to state they are a minor, do not have any ID, and still attempt to purchase alcohol from you. From there, police then would come in and arrest or cite you for the offense. This defense acts in a way to protect people who made an honest and reasonable mistake under the circumstances such as here when they are directly lied to. It doesn’t help you if you decided to not ask for an ID and are even told the person buying is a minor.

Call Today

Navigating the legal ramifications of a charge under Business and Professions Code 25658(a) is of critical importance, especially for business owners. A conviction for selling alcohol to minors can have far-reaching consequences, potentially leading to the closure of your establishment, the permanent loss of your liquor license, and a significant impact on your future earnings and livelihood.

At Inland Empire Criminal Defense, our BP 25658(a) Ontario attorney specializes in defending cases related to the sale of alcohol to minors. With a history of successful outcomes, we are well-equipped to provide the robust defense necessary to protect your business and your future.

Understanding the gravity of such charges, we offer a free initial consultation to discuss your case in detail. Our team is dedicated to being available around the clock to ensure that your questions are answered promptly and your concerns are addressed. We aim to provide clear, strategic advice and representation, tailored to the unique aspects of your case.

If you’re facing charges under BP 25658(a) and are concerned about the impact on your business and future, don’t hesitate to reach out. Contact Inland Empire Criminal Defense today at 909-939-7126 for expert legal assistance. Our office, conveniently located in Ontario, CA, is ready to assist you in navigating this complex legal challenge. Trust our expertise and dedication to achieve the best possible outcome for your situation.