Alcoholic beverage licensees: beer and wine importers, beer and wine importers general, and beer and wine wholesalers.

Existing law, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, which is administered by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, regulates the application, issuance, and suspension of alcoholic beverage licenses. Existing law establishes a beer and wine importer's license, a beer and wine importer's general license, and a beer and wine wholesaler license with specified privileges and restrictions attached to each license, as provided. A violation of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act is a misdemeanor, unless another penalty or punishment is specified. This bill would remove the beer and wine importer, the beer and wine importer's general, and the beer and wine wholesaler licenses and replace them with a separate beer or wine license, as specified, and would make relating changes within the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act with regard to the privileges and restrictions on these licenses. Because the violation of a provision of a license is punishable as a misdemeanor and the bill would create a new category of license, the bill would expand the definition of a crime, thereby imposing 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.