Alcoholic beverages: beer caterer's permit.

Existing law, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, regulates the application for, the issuance of, the suspension of, and the conditions imposed upon alcoholic beverage licenses by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Existing law generally provides that a violation of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act is a misdemeanor. Existing law authorizes the issuance of a caterer's permit, upon application to the department, to a licensee under an on-sale general license, an on-sale beer and wine license, a club license, or a veterans' club license, that authorizes the holder of the permit to sell alcoholic beverages at specified locations and events, including, among others, conventions, sporting events, and trade exhibits. Existing law requires the permitholder to obtain consent from the department for each event in the form of a catering authorization and imposes a fee for the authorization based on the estimated attendance at each day of the event. Existing law imposes various limitations on the permits, including prohibiting a catering authorization from being issued for use at any one premises for more than 36 events in one calendar year, except as specified. This bill would similarly authorize a licensed beer manufacturer to apply for, and the department to issue, a beer caterer's permit for the sale of up to 124 gallons of beer manufactured by or for the licensee per catering event for consumption at specified locations and events, including, among others, conventions, sporting events, and trade exhibits. The bill would require a permitholder to obtain consent from the department for each event in the form of a beer catering authorization and would impose the same fees as described above, and would require the permitholder to maintain records of all beer sales conducted under a beer caterer's permit for a minimum of 3 years. The bill would prohibit a beer catering authorization from being issued for more than 36 events per licensee per calendar year and would prohibit the department from issuing more than 2 beer catering authorizations for the same day at the same catering event. The bill would impose an annual fee for a beer caterer's permit of $275 and would authorize the permit to be transferable as part of the beer manufacturer's license. 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.