Alcoholic beverages: instruction: tastings.

The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act permits a winegrower or distilled spirits manufacturer, or its authorized agent, to instruct consumers at an on-sale retail licensed premises authorized to sell its product on the subject of wine or distilled spirits, including, but not limited to, the history, nature, values, and characteristics of those beverages, as provided. Existing law authorizes the instruction to include tastings of wine or distilled spirits, subject to limitations on the amounts that may be provided to the consumers. The act provides that a violation of its provisions is a misdemeanor, unless otherwise specified. This bill would expand the types of licensees that may provide instructional tasting events regarding wine or distilled spirits at on-sale retail licensed premises and would place additional restrictions on the instructional tasting events, including restrictions on the types of advertising that may be conducted prior to the instructional tasting event. By expanding the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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.