Alcoholic beverage control: retailer payments: electronic funds transfers.

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 and generally makes a violation of the act a misdemeanor. Existing law imposes various restrictions on the hours of sale and delivery of alcoholic beverages. This bill would require, commencing January 1, 2026, a payment by a retailer licensee to a wholesaler licensee for delivery of beer, wine, or distilled spirits, to be made by electronic funds transfer, except as specified. The bill would require the wholesaler licensee to be responsible for selecting the third-party payment processor used to make an electronic funds transfer, as specified. The bill would make conforming changes to a tied-house restriction governing certain sales to retailers who make late payments, as specified. By imposing additional requirements on licensees under the act, the violation of which is 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.