POWDERED ALCOHOL - 311.057 & 577.180

This act provides that no person, business, or public venue may sell or serve any form of powdered alcohol. This act defines powdered alcohol.

This act also creates the offense of illegal possession of powdered alcohol. The offense is a Class C misdemeanor. The offense does not apply to hospitals, state institutions, colleges, universities, or pharmaceutical companies conducting research.

These provisions are similar to provisions of HB 1325 (2015) and HB 1329 (2015) and they contain an emergency clause.

SELLING OR PROVIDING LIQUOR TO MINORS - 311.310

Under current law, it is a Class A misdemeanor for a liquor licensee, employee of a liquor licensee, or any person except a parent or guardian of the minor, to sell, give away, or otherwise supply liquor to a minor.

Current law also provides that it is a Class B misdemeanor for a property owner to knowingly allow a person under the age of 21 to drink or possess intoxicating liquor or fail to stop a minor from drinking or possessing liquor. This act makes the offense of allowing a minor to drink or possess liquor or fail to stop a minor from drinking or possessing liquor a Class D felony until January 1, 2017, when it becomes a Class E felony to accommodate the criminal code revisions that take effect in 2017. Any subsequent violation is a Class C felony until January 1, 2017, and a Class D felony beginning in 2017.

Under this act, the penalty for selling or giving liquor to a minor is a Class B felony if the minor injures or kills another person while intoxicated. The enhanced penalty does not apply to liquor licensees or employees of liquor licensees.

This provision is similar to SCS/SB 30 (2015) and a provision of SCS/HCS/HB 807 (2015).

MEGHAN LUECKE