Craft distillers: delivery: direct shipper permits.

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 authorizes a licensed craft distiller to manufacture and produce distilled spirits, subject to specified conditions, including that the licensee manufacture no more than 150,000 gallons of distilled spirits per fiscal year and sell no more than 2.25 liters of prepackaged containers of the licensee's spirits per day per consumer at its premises. This bill would authorize a licensed craft distiller to sell and deliver to a consumer at its premises up to 4.5 liters of prepackaged containers of the licensee's spirits per day per consumer. This bill would authorize a craft distiller licensed in this state and a distilled spirits producer or craft distiller licensed in any other state that complies with the conditions necessary for the issuance of a craft distiller's license, upon issuance of a distilled spirits direct shipper permit, to sell and ship a specified amount of distilled spirits directly to a resident of California, who is 21 years of age or older, for the resident's personal use and not for resale, as provided. The bill would impose various obligations on distilled spirits direct shipper permitholders before they could begin shipping, including obtaining a seller's permit or registering with the State Board of Equalization. The bill would require a distilled spirits producer or craft distiller to certify under penalty of perjury that it meets specified requirements when filing initial and renewal applications. The bill would prohibit sales and shipments of distilled spirits directly to consumers in California from distilled spirits producers who do not possess a distilled spirits direct shipper permit. The bill would provide that a person who knowingly makes, participates in, transports, imports, or receives such a shipment would be guilty of a misdemeanor. By expanding the definitions of crimes, 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.