Alcoholic beverages: tied-house restrictions.

Existing law prohibits specified holders of alcoholic beverage licenses from having specified relationships with an on-sale alcoholic beverage licensee, with limited exceptions. Existing law permits a manufacturer, winegrower, rectifier, distiller, distilled spirits wholesaler, or any agent of those licensees, to conduct market research and, in connection with that research, to purchase from licensed off-sale retailers data, regarding purchases and sales of alcoholic beverage products, at the customary rates that those retailers sell similar data for nonalcoholic beverage products, provided that a licensed retailer shall not be obligated to purchase or sell the alcoholic beverages of the manufacturer, winegrower, rectifier, or distiller. This bill would additionally include a distilled spirits wholesaler in the provision prohibiting a licensed retailer from being obligated to purchase or sell the alcoholic beverages of the licensee conducting the market research. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for a licensee, subject to these provisions, to violate existing provisions relating to the purchase of that advertising time or space. This bill would impose a state-mandated local program by expanding the licensees subject to these criminal provisions. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.