Wis. Stat. § 125.34 — WI Code / Chapter 125 / Section 125.34
Distribution restrictions on wholesalers, brewers, brewpubs, and out-of-state shippers.
Status: in_force

(1) In this section:

(a) “Brand” means any word, name, group of letters, symbol, or combination thereof, including the name of the brewer, brewpub, or out-of-state shipper if the brewer’s, brewpub’s, or out-of-state shipper’s name is also a significant part of the product name, adopted and used by a brewer, brewpub, or out-of-state shipper to identify a specific fermented malt beverage product and to distinguish that product from other fermented malt beverages produced by that brewer, brewpub, or out-of-state shipper or other brewers, brewpubs, or out-of-state shippers.

(b) “Brewer” means a permittee under s. 125.29 .

(c) “Designated sales territory” means the geographical area identified in a written agreement between a wholesaler and a brewer, brewpub, or out-of-state shipper under which the wholesaler is authorized to distribute one or more brands of fermented malt beverages supplied by the brewer, brewpub, or out-of-state shipper.

(d) “Out-of-state shipper” means a permittee under s. 125.30 .

(e) “Retailer” means any person holding a Class “A” license or a Class “B” license or permit.

(f) “Retail premises” means the premises described in a Class “A” license or a Class “B” license or permit.

(g) “Wholesaler” means a permittee under s. 125.28 .

(2) Except as provided in ss. 125.29 (3m) (b) and (c) , 125.295 (1) (e) and (g) , and 125.30 (4) , no fermented malt beverages may be sold, transported, or delivered to a retailer unless, prior to such sale, transport, or delivery, the fermented malt beverages are first unloaded at, physically at rest at, and only then distributed from a wholesaler’s warehouse premises covered by both a wholesaler’s permit issued under s. 125.28 and an alcohol beverage warehouse permit issued under s. 125.19 , which premises shall be in this state. This subsection does not apply to a wholesaler issued a wholesaler’s permit under s. 125.28 (1) (b) with respect to fermented malt beverages transported and delivered from a warehouse in an adjoining state unless the wholesaler’s warehouse in the adjoining state is located on premises in the adjoining state used for the manufacture of fermented malt beverages.

(3)

(a)

1. A wholesaler may not sell, transport, or deliver any brand of fermented malt beverages unless the wholesaler has entered into a written agreement with the brewer, brewpub, or out-of-state shipper supplying the brand that grants to the wholesaler distribution rights for the brand and identifies the designated sales territory for which such distribution rights are granted, including the precise geographical area comprising the designated sales territory.

2. A brewer, brewpub, or out-of-state shipper may not, in any agreement under this paragraph, grant to more than one wholesaler distribution rights for the same brand in the same designated sales territory or in any part of the same designated sales territory.

(b) Within a wholesaler’s designated sales territory for any brand of fermented malt beverages, the wholesaler may not refuse to sell the brand of fermented malt beverages, or refuse to offer reasonable service related to the sale of the brand of fermented malt beverages, to any retailer.

(4) No wholesaler may sell, transport, or deliver, or cause to be sold, transported, or delivered, any brand of fermented malt beverages to any of the following:

(a) Any retailer located outside the wholesaler’s designated sales territory for the brand. This paragraph does not apply if another wholesaler that has been granted distribution rights for the brand in the designated sales territory where the sale, transportation, or delivery occurs is unable to service this designated sales territory and the brewer, brewpub, or out-of-state shipper granting distribution rights has, notwithstanding sub. (3) (a) , given consent for the sale, transportation, or delivery, which consent shall be limited to the time period that another wholesaler is unable to service this designated sales territory.

(b) Any person, other than another wholesaler, that the wholesaler knows or should know will transport the product for resale in a designated sales territory for which another wholesaler has been granted distribution rights for the brand.

(5) Except as provided in ss. 125.29 (3m) (b) and (c) , 125.295 (1) (e) and (g) , and 125.30 (4) , deliveries of fermented malt beverages to retailers may be made only by wholesalers and shall be made to retailers only at their retail premises. No retailer may transport fermented malt beverages from one retail premises to another retail premises for purposes of selling the fermented malt beverages at the other retail premises unless both retail premises are operated by a brewpub holding the retail licenses.

(6) Except as provided in ss. 125.29 (3) , (3m) (b) and (c) , and (7) and 125.30 (4) , a brewer or out-of-state shipper may sell, transport, and deliver fermented malt beverages only to a wholesaler.

History: 2005 a. 103 , 115 ; 2007 a. 20 ; 2011 a. 32 ; 2013 a. 166 ; 2023 a. 73 .