Alcoholic beverages.

Existing law, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, regulates the application, issuance, and suspension of alcoholic beverage licenses by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Existing law, known as tied-house restrictions, generally prohibits specified holders of alcoholic beverage licenses from having an ownership interest in any on-sale license or giving anything of value to a person operating, owning, or maintaining an on-sale premises where alcoholic beverages are sold. Existing law specifically grants the department the authority to investigate violations of tied–house restrictions. This bill would specifically grant the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control the authority to investigate violations relating to beer price posting and marketing regulations and provisions relating to labeling and containers. The bill would direct and authorize the department to hire six, full-time equivalent personnel, additional to the department's current staff, to investigate and prosecute violations of the tied-house laws. The bill would make a statement of legislative findings and delete obsolete cross-references.