(a) Alcoholic liquor shall not be sold or furnished to a person unless the person has attained twenty-one years of age. No person shall knowingly sell or furnish alcoholic liquor to a person who is less than twenty-one years of age or fail to make diligent inquiry as to whether or not the person is less than twenty-one years of age. A suitable sign which describes this section and the penalties for violating this section shall be posted in a conspicuous place in each room where alcoholic liquors are sold. The sign shall be approved and furnished by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission.
(b) In an action for a violation of subsection (a) hereof, proof that the defendant or the defendant's agent or employee demanded and was shown, before furnishing alcoholic liquor to a person under twenty-one years of age, a motor vehicle operator's license, a registration certificate issued by the Federal selective service or other bona fide documentary evidence of the age and identity of that person shall be a defense to such action.
(c) No person less than twenty-one years of age shall knowingly transport or possess in a motor vehicle alcoholic liquor unless the person is employed by a licensee of the Michigan Liquor Control Commission or by an agent of the Commission, and is transporting or has the alcoholic liquor in a motor vehicle under the person's control during regular working hours and in the course of a person's employment.
(d) No person less than twenty-one years of age shall purchase alcoholic liquor, consume alcoholic liquor in a licensed premises or possess alcoholic liquor, except as provided in subsection (c) hereof.
(1) First offense for a minor in possession of alcoholic liquor, shall be a civil infraction.
(e) No person shall furnish fraudulent identification to a person less than twenty-one years of age, and no person less than twenty-one years of age shall use fraudulent identification to purchase alcoholic liquor.
(f) This section shall not be construed to prohibit a person less than twenty-one years of age from possessing alcoholic liquor during regular working hours and in the course of his or her employment if employed by a person licensed by State law, by the Liquor Control Commission or by an agent of the Commission, if the alcoholic liquor is not possessed for his or her personal consumption.
(g) This section shall not be construed to limit the civil or criminal liability of the vendor or the vendor's clerk, servant, agent or employee for a violation of this section.
(h) The consumption of alcoholic beverages by a person under twenty-one years of age who is enrolled in a course offered by an accredited post secondary educational institution, in an academic building of the institution under the supervision of a faculty member, shall not be prohibited by this section if the purpose is solely educational and a necessary ingredient of the course.
(Ord. 301. Passed 8-15-79; Ord. 18-997. Passed 3-21-18.)