§ 251. Educational sampling event permit

(a) The Division of Liquor Control may grant an educational sampling event permit to a person if:

(1) the event is also approved by the local control commissioners; and

(2) at least 15 days prior to the event, the applicant submits an application to the Division in a form required by the Commissioner that includes a list of the alcoholic beverages to be acquired for sampling at the event and is accompanied by the fee provided in section 204 of this title.

(b) An educational sampling event permit holder is permitted to conduct an event that is open to the public at which malt beverages, vinous beverages, fortified wines, spirits, or all four are served only for the purposes of marketing and educational sampling.

(c)(1) No more than four educational sampling event permits shall be issued annually to the same person.

(2) An educational sampling event permit shall be valid for no more than four consecutive days.

(d) The permit holder shall ensure all the following:

(1) Attendees at the educational sampling event shall be required to pay an entry fee of no less than $5.00.

(2)(A) Malt beverages or vinous beverages for sampling shall be offered in glasses that contain no more than two ounces of either beverage.

(B) Fortified wines and spirits for sampling shall be offered in glasses that contain no more than one-quarter ounce of either beverage.

(3) The event shall be conducted in compliance with all the requirements of this title.

(e) An educational sampling event permit holder:

(1) may receive shipments directly from a manufacturer, packager, certificate of approval holder, wholesale dealer, or importer licensed in Vermont or that provides evidence of licensure in another state or foreign country satisfactory to the Board;

(2) may transport alcoholic beverages to the event site, and those beverages may be served at the event by the permit holder or the holder's employees, volunteers, or representatives of a manufacturer, packager, or importer participating in the event, provided they meet the server age and training requirements under section 259 of this chapter; and

(3) shall mark all cases and bottles of alcoholic beverages to be served at the event "For sampling only. Not for resale."

(f) Taxes for the alcoholic beverages served at the event shall be paid as follows:

(1) malt beverages:

(A) $0.265 per gallon of malt beverages served that contain not more than six percent alcohol by volume at 60 degrees Fahrenheit; and

(B) $0.55 per gallon of malt beverages served that contain more than six percent alcohol by volume at 60 degrees Fahrenheit;

(2) vinous beverages: $0.55 per gallon served;

(3) spirits: $19.80 per gallon served; and

(4) fortified wines: $19.80 per gallon served. (Amended 2001, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 9, eff. June 21, 2002; 2005, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. March 9, 2006; 2007, No. 10, § 2, eff. April 26, 2007; 2015, No. 51, § A.11, eff. Jan. 1, 2016; 2017, No. 83, § 38; 2018, No. 1 (Sp. Sess.), § 48; 2019, No. 14, § 8, eff. April 30, 2019.)