Maybe the bishops in Alaska can ask if there’s a minimal amount of alcohol content that would constitute “wine” to them? If that answer is greater than zero, perhaps they could work around it if the minimum given is enough that the Church would consider it acceptable matter? I don’t know off the top of my head the minimum alcoholic content the Church allows for being considered wine for liturgical purposes, but perhaps an understanding can still be reached.

Another option may be to allow for the wine to only be consumed by the chaplain and not offered as a species for communion for others? I can understand that the state is probably concerned about mere possession for safety and security, but one would think a prison should be secure enough to allow a chaplain a small flask to be concealed and consumed in the span of 5-10 minutes every week. Priests have faced far more dangerous situations in their ministry. If the state is concerned about litigation over security issues, just have the chaplain sign a waiver that they’re responsible for what they bring to their work.

Alaska brought prohibition back?