RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 354 (HB 182) 2016 Regular Session Foil
Existing law prohibits the "public possession" of any alcoholic beverage by persons under
21 years of age and defines "public possession" as the possession of any alcoholic beverage
for any reason including consumption, on any street, highway, or waterway or in any public
place or any place open to the public, including a club which is de facto open to the public.
Prior law provided penalties of a fine of not more than $100, or imprisonment for not more
than six months, or both.
New law removes the possibility of jail time from the penalty provision but retains the
existing law fine of not more than $100.
Existing law provides that any person apprehended for violating existing law shall be issued
a citation by the apprehending law enforcement officer, which shall be paid in the same
manner as provided for the offenders of local traffic violations.
New law retains existing law and provides that a citation issued by a law enforcement officer
for a violation of the offense of underage possession of an alcoholic beverage shall not be
included on the person's criminal history record.
Effective August 1, 2016.
(Amends R.S. 14:93.12(B)(1) and (2))