thedrifter
01-13-09, 07:15 AM
Last modified Monday, January 12, 2009 6:22 PM PST
MILITARY: ID may become proof enough to buy alcohol
By MARK WALKER - Staff Writer
California may accept military identification as proof of legal drinking age under legislation proposed after a group of Marines were denied service because they weren't carrying other documents showing they were at least 21.
State Assemblymen Kevin Jeffries, R-Lake Elsinore, and Nathan Fletcher, R-San Diego, have introduced a bill that would clarify state liquor laws to make military identification sufficient to buy alcohol.
The legislation comes after a group of Camp Pendleton Marines attending a banquet in Temecula were refused service when none was able to produce any identification other than their military card.
The cards include the holder's picture and date of birth. What the cards don't have printed are height, weight and other physical characteristics, which are encoded in a magnetic strip for security purposes. Because that information isn't visible, the cards are not officially recognized by the state as proof the person is old enough to purchase alcohol.
"It was brought to my attention and it just seems to me to be a pretty common-sense bill," Jeffries said Monday. "If the government is issuing it and it gets you on military bases around the world, you would think it would allow troops to buy a beer in California."
Fletcher, whose 75th Assembly District includes Poway and parts of Escondido, said he is co-sponsoring Assembly Bill 59 for the same reasons as Jeffries ---- military identification that includes date of birth should be sufficient.
"We want California to allow the hardworking men and women of the armed forces of legal drinking age to be able to buy a beer with their military identity (card)," said Fletcher, a former Camp Pendleton Marine.
A spokesman for the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control said a staff analyst will review the measure and report to the Legislature.
"We always take a neutral position on these matters and leave it up to the lawmakers," spokesman John Carr said.
Any establishment that serves alcohol has the option of asking patrons for proof they are at least 21.
"There's no law that says you have to ask for identification ---- it's up to the licensee to make that decision," he said. "We just tell them to be careful."
Jeffries, who represents the 66th Assembly District, was approached about the matter by Temecula Mayor Maryann Edwards after Marines attending a banquet at the Pechanga Resort & Casino last fall were denied service.
"Pechanga was just following the rules as they are specifically written and that is what got people upset," said Jeff Green, spokesman for Jeffries.
At the Pier View Bar in Oceanside, manager Matt Killian said that as a general policy, it requires more than just a military identification card before serving someone who may not appear old enough to purchase alcohol.
Camp Pendleton spokesman 1st Lt. Tom Garnett said that other than their military ID card, there is no general policy as to what other documents troops should carry.
"But we definitely encourage Marines to carry driver's licenses whenever they are going off the base," he said.
The bill was introduced last week and is expected to be referred to the Assembly's Committee on Governmental Organization.
Contact staff writer Mark Walker at (760) 740-3529 or mlwalker@nctimes.com.
Ellie
MILITARY: ID may become proof enough to buy alcohol
By MARK WALKER - Staff Writer
California may accept military identification as proof of legal drinking age under legislation proposed after a group of Marines were denied service because they weren't carrying other documents showing they were at least 21.
State Assemblymen Kevin Jeffries, R-Lake Elsinore, and Nathan Fletcher, R-San Diego, have introduced a bill that would clarify state liquor laws to make military identification sufficient to buy alcohol.
The legislation comes after a group of Camp Pendleton Marines attending a banquet in Temecula were refused service when none was able to produce any identification other than their military card.
The cards include the holder's picture and date of birth. What the cards don't have printed are height, weight and other physical characteristics, which are encoded in a magnetic strip for security purposes. Because that information isn't visible, the cards are not officially recognized by the state as proof the person is old enough to purchase alcohol.
"It was brought to my attention and it just seems to me to be a pretty common-sense bill," Jeffries said Monday. "If the government is issuing it and it gets you on military bases around the world, you would think it would allow troops to buy a beer in California."
Fletcher, whose 75th Assembly District includes Poway and parts of Escondido, said he is co-sponsoring Assembly Bill 59 for the same reasons as Jeffries ---- military identification that includes date of birth should be sufficient.
"We want California to allow the hardworking men and women of the armed forces of legal drinking age to be able to buy a beer with their military identity (card)," said Fletcher, a former Camp Pendleton Marine.
A spokesman for the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control said a staff analyst will review the measure and report to the Legislature.
"We always take a neutral position on these matters and leave it up to the lawmakers," spokesman John Carr said.
Any establishment that serves alcohol has the option of asking patrons for proof they are at least 21.
"There's no law that says you have to ask for identification ---- it's up to the licensee to make that decision," he said. "We just tell them to be careful."
Jeffries, who represents the 66th Assembly District, was approached about the matter by Temecula Mayor Maryann Edwards after Marines attending a banquet at the Pechanga Resort & Casino last fall were denied service.
"Pechanga was just following the rules as they are specifically written and that is what got people upset," said Jeff Green, spokesman for Jeffries.
At the Pier View Bar in Oceanside, manager Matt Killian said that as a general policy, it requires more than just a military identification card before serving someone who may not appear old enough to purchase alcohol.
Camp Pendleton spokesman 1st Lt. Tom Garnett said that other than their military ID card, there is no general policy as to what other documents troops should carry.
"But we definitely encourage Marines to carry driver's licenses whenever they are going off the base," he said.
The bill was introduced last week and is expected to be referred to the Assembly's Committee on Governmental Organization.
Contact staff writer Mark Walker at (760) 740-3529 or mlwalker@nctimes.com.
Ellie