(1) A manufacturer, distributor, or importer of malt beverages, or any contracted third-party agent thereof, may conduct sampling activities that include the tasting of malt beverage products on:

(a) The licensed premises of a vendor authorized to sell alcoholic beverages by the drink for consumption on premises; or

(b) The licensed premises of a vendor authorized to sell alcoholic beverages only in sealed containers for consumption off premises if:

1. The licensed premises is at an establishment with at least 10,000 square feet of interior floor space exclusive of storage space not open to the general public; or

2. The licensed premises is a package store licensed under s. 565.02(1)(a).

(2) A malt beverage tasting conducted under this section must be limited to and directed toward the general public of the age of legal consumption.

(3) For a malt beverage tasting conducted under this section on the licensed premises of a vendor authorized to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on premises, each serving of a malt beverage to be tasted must be provided to the consumer by the drink in a tasting cup, glass, or other open container and may not be provided by the package in an unopened can or bottle or in any other sealed container.

(4) For a malt beverage tasting conducted under this section on the licensed premises of a vendor authorized to sell alcoholic beverages only in sealed containers for consumption off premises, the tasting must be conducted in the interior of the building constituting the vendor’s licensed premises and each serving of a malt beverage to be tasted must be provided to the consumer in a tasting cup having a capacity of 3.5 ounces or less.

(5) A manufacturer, distributor, or importer, or any contracted third-party agent thereof, may not pay a vendor, and a vendor may not accept, a fee or compensation of any kind, including the provision of a malt beverage at no cost or at a reduced cost, to authorize the conduct of a malt beverage tasting under this section.

(6)(a) A manufacturer, distributor, or importer, or any contracted third-party agent thereof, conducting a malt beverage tasting under this section, must provide all of the beverages to be tasted; must have paid all excise taxes on those beverages which are required of the manufacturer or distributor; and must return to the manufacturer’s or distributor’s inventory all of the malt beverages provided for the tasting that remain unconsumed after the tasting. More than one tasting may be held on the licensed premises each day, but only one manufacturer, distributor, importer, or contracted third-party agent thereof, may conduct a tasting on the premises at any one time.

(b) This subsection does not preclude a manufacturer, distributor, or importer, or any contracted third-party agent thereof, from buying the malt beverages that it provides for the tasting from a vendor at no more than the retail price, but all of the malt beverages so purchased and provided for the tasting which remain unconsumed after the tasting must be removed from the premises of the tasting and properly disposed of.

(7) A manufacturer, distributor, or importer of malt beverages that contracts with a third-party agent to conduct a malt beverage tasting under this section on its behalf is responsible for any violation of this section by such agent.

(8) This section does not preclude a vendor from conducting a malt beverage tasting on its licensed premises using malt beverages from its own inventory.

(9) This section is supplemental to and does not supersede any special act or ordinance.

(10) The division may, pursuant to ss. 561.08 and 561.11, adopt rules to implement, administer, and enforce this section.

History.—s. 9, ch. 2015-12.