Compare/contrast china and the united states?

Transporting wine (export) from the United States to China (PRC)

• A 20-year-old friend of mine (US citizen) will be going to China (PRC) in the next couple of days (departing from LAX, stopping in tokyo [NRT I guess], and arriving at PEK). He is travelling as a student and will stay for a couple of months. Is it legal for him to bring a single gift bottle of wine with him and are there any special procedures required of him? I remember when I was 15 I brought a gift bottle of wine to costa rica with me (pre 9/11) without incident. I also managed to bring back 24 rum and cokes to the states from costa rica when I was 16 without incident (also pre 9/11). <a href="http://travel.howstuffworks.com/us-customs-service3.htm">Information</a> for bringing alcohol to the States, though, all states that you have to be 21 to bring even 1 liter of wine into the States with you, so maybe there is some similar policy for transporting alcohol out of the country. I know for certain that it is legal for him to possess and consume the wine in China, so I don't expect problems on that end. He really doesn't want an MIP (minor in possession), so he's got to be sure it is legal, even if he could probably get away with it. Once again, is it legal for a 20-year-old, US citizen to take a gift bottle of wine with him from Los Angeles, California to Beijing, China?

• Answer:

  Howdy alberrosidus-ga, Your friend would indeed be guilty of being a minor in possession of alcohol. From the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page. http://www.abc.ca.gov/questions/enforcement_faq.html "Q. 70. With regard to purchase, consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages, what is the age of majority? A. The age of majority for these purposes is 21 years of age. (Section 22 of Article XX, California Constitution)" The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control "Teen Corner" page discusses the possible penalties he could face if caught. http://www.abc.ca.gov/teencorner.html "IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL the penalty is a $250 fine and 24-32 hours of community service, PLUS...a one year suspension of your driver license. If you don't yet have one, you'll have to wait an extra year to get one." If you need any clarification, please feel free to ask. Search strategy: Google search on: California possession alcohol site:.ca.gov ://www.google.com/search?q=California+possession+alcohol+site:.ca.gov Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher