Current through 2024 First Special Session
Section 60-7-12a - Unlawful acts by persons(a) A person under the age of twenty-one years may not order, pay for, share the cost of or attempt to purchase any nonintoxicating beer, wine or alcoholic liquors from a licensee or consume any nonintoxicating beer, wine or alcoholic liquors purchased from a licensee or possess any nonintoxicating beer, wine or alcoholic liquors purchased from a licensee. Any person under the age of twenty-one years who violates any provisions of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in an amount not to exceed five hundred dollars or imprisoned in the county jail for a period not to exceed seventy-two hours, or both fined and imprisoned, and, in addition to such fine and imprisonment, may, for the first offense, be placed on probation for a period not to exceed one year: Provided, That nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a person who is at least eighteen years of age from purchasing or possessing nonintoxicating beer, wine or alcoholic liquors 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 nonintoxicating beer, wine, or 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 nonintoxicating beer, wine, or alcoholic liquors from a licensee, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in an amount not to exceed five hundred dollars 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 knowingly buys for, gives to or furnishes to anyone under the age of twenty-one, any nonintoxicating beer, wine or alcoholic liquors purchased from a licensee, is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned in the county jail not more than ten days, or both fined and imprisoned.