Columbia Presumption ordinance (§ 4-21)
Chapter 4: Alcoholic Beverages · Article I. In General
In short: In alcohol-law prosecutions, a container labeled as holding an alcoholic beverage is presumed to contain it, whether open or sealed, but the defendant can challenge that. The presumption applies only if a sample of the contents has been preserved and is available to the defendant for testing.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
In prosecutions under this chapter, there is a rebuttable presumption that a container marked or labeled as containing an alcoholic beverage actually contains the described alcoholic beverage. This rebuttable presumption applies to both open and sealed containers. This rebuttable presumption applies only in cases where a sample of the contents of the container has been preserved and is available to the defendant for testing.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 4-21
Text from Supplement 139 (September 3, 2026).
Last checked November 1, 2026. The city's official copy controls; this page is a reading copy, not legal advice.