§150. Unfair practices

A. The commissioner shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to prevent any unfair practices in the sale of any "regulated beverages."

B. The following unfair practices are hereby prohibited:

(1) Misleading or fraudulent advertising or failure or inability to deliver advertised regulated beverages over a minimum period of twenty-four hours from date of advertising, unless the quantity for sale is specified in the advertisement in type as large as the largest used therein.

(2) Misleading or fraudulent substitution of regulated beverages for those ordered or sold.

(3) Adulterating, watering, or in any manner changing the original contents of any container of regulated beverages while in such container, or possessing containers so adulterated, watered, or changed.

(4) Violating any law or laws of this state defining or prohibiting unfair practices.

(5) Permitting, or acquiescing in, the indiscriminate solicitation or acceptance of regulated beverages, or unregulated beverages, from patrons by employees, or habitues, of the dealer's establishment on the licensed premises.

(6) Doing, permitting, or acquiescing in the doing or permitting, of any act or thing in connection with the sale of regulated beverages involving pricing or stocking or involving fraud, deception or coercion.

C.(1) No retail dealer of alcoholic beverages shall substitute one brand of alcoholic beverage for a brand that has been specifically requested by the customer, unless the customer consents to the substitution.

(2) For the purpose of this Subsection, "brand" means a kind, grade, make, or class of alcoholic beverage identified as being the product of a single manufacturer by a stamp, trademark, logo, or name.

(3) Violation of this Subsection by an agent, associate, employee, representative, or servant of a retail dealer shall be considered a violation by the retail dealer for the purpose of this Subsection.

(4) Anyone who violates the provisions of this Subsection may have his license suspended for not more than two days for the first offense, not less than five days nor more than thirty days for a second offense, and not less than thirty days nor more than one year for third and subsequent offenses. In addition, the commissioner may fine anyone violating this Subsection two hundred fifty dollars for the first offense, not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars for a second offense, and not less than two thousand dollars nor more than three thousand dollars on the third and subsequent offenses.

(5) In addition to the penalties set forth in this Subsection, the retail dealer may be liable in civil suit to the customer and to any dealer of the requested alcoholic beverage for damages which resulted from the substitution. The court shall award the prevailing party in such an action reasonable attorney fees and costs.

D. No retail dealer or any person or entity which owns or controls, directly or indirectly, any premises on which a retail dealer operates shall require a wholesaler of such beverages to obtain a license or permit, whether or not accompanied by a fee, from a retailer or any person or entity which owns or controls, directly or indirectly, any premises on which a retail dealer operates for the privilege of soliciting for sale or selling alcoholic beverages to the retailer. For purposes of this Subsection, fees shall not mean allowances, incentives, or any other recognized market practices.

Acts 1987, No. 696, §1; Acts 1995, No. 691, §1, eff. June 22, 1995; Acts 1995, No. 738, §1, eff. June 22, 1995.