Colorado

Possession is prohibited WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTION(S):

• private location
• AND parent/guardian

Notes:
POSSESSION: Colorado's exception requires the knowledge and consent of the owner of the private property when minors possess alcohol (in addition to the consent and presence of a parent or guardian).

Consumption is prohibited WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTION(S):

• private location
• AND parent/guardian

Notes:
CONSUMPTION: Colorado's exception requires the knowledge and consent of the owner of the private property when minors consume alcohol (in addition to the consent and presence of a parent or guardian).

Internal possession is prohibited WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTION(S):

• private location
• AND parent/guardian

Notes:
INTERNAL POSSESSION: Colorado's exception requires the knowledge and consent of the owner of the private property when minors possess or consume alcohol (in addition to the consent and presence of a parent or guardian).

Purchase is prohibited and there is NO ALLOWANCE for youth purchase for law enforcement purposes.

Furnishing is prohibited WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTION(S):

• private location
• AND parent/guardian

• Beer: 18 for both servers and bartenders
• Wine: 18 for both servers and bartenders
• Spirits: 18 for both servers and bartenders

Condition(s) that must be met in order for an underage person to sell alcoholic beverages:

• manager/supervisor is present

Notes:
Persons under 21 years of age employed to sell or dispense malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors are required to be supervised by another person who is on premise and has attained 21 years of age.

• Beer: 21
• Wine: 21
• Spirits: 21

Notes:
Although employees must be at least 21 years of age to sell malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors in a retail liquor store, employees at least 18 years of age may sell fermented malt beverages containing not more than 3.2 percent alcohol by weight in establishments where fermented malt beverages are sold at retail in containers for off-premises consumption

Provision(s) targeting minors:

• Use of a false ID to obtain alcohol is a criminal offense
• No driver's license suspension procedure

Provision(s) targeting suppliers:

• It is a criminal offense to lend, transfer, or sell a false ID

Provision(s) targeting retailers:

• Licenses for drivers under age 21 are easily distinguishable from those for drivers age 21 and older
• Retailers are permitted to seize apparently false IDs
• Specific affirmative defense - the retailer inspected the false ID and came to a reasonable conclusion based on its appearance that it was valid
• Retailer has the authority to detain a minor suspected of using a false ID in connection with the purchase of alcohol

Notes:
In Colorado, the license revocation period for a first conviction of obtaining or attempting to obtain an alcoholic beverage by misrepresentation of age is twenty-four hours of public service, if ordered by the court, or three months.

BAC limit: 0.02 - a BAC level above the limit is per se (conclusive) evidence of a violation.
Applies to drivers under age 21.

Registration is not required.

Type(s) of violation leading to driver's license suspension, revocation, or denial:

• Underage purchase
• Underage possession
• Underage consumption

Use/lose penalties apply to minors under age 21

Authority to impose driver's license sanction

• mandatory

Length of suspension/revocation:

• Minimum: Not Specified
• Maximum: 90 days

Notes:
In Colorado, the license revocation period for a first conviction of underage purchase, possession, or consumption is twenty-four hours of public service, if ordered by the court, or three months.

No State-imposed liability for hosting underage drinking parties.