California · Business and Professions Code - BPC

BPC §25610: (a) Any person who erases, removes, obliterates, destroys, or renders illegible in any manner any serial numbers, stamps, marks, brands, legends, or other information required by federal or state law

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

It is illegal to erase or remove serial numbers or required markings from alcoholic beverage packages before they are empty, or for a licensee to possess such unmarked packages.

Read the full statutory text

(a) Any person who erases, removes, obliterates, destroys, or renders illegible in any manner any serial numbers, stamps, marks, brands, legends, or other information required by federal or state law to be attached or placed upon any packages or original cases containing alcoholic beverages, before the contents of such packages or cases have been entirely removed, is guilty of a misdemeanor. (b) Any licensee who possesses any original unopened package or case containing alcoholic beverages on which or from which any serial number required by federal or state law to be attached or placed has been erased, removed, obliterated, destroyed, or rendered illegible in any manner, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.