AB682 AB 682 Alcoholic beverages. An act to add Section 25503.33 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to alcoholic beverages. This bill would permit a beer manufacturer or winegrower to provide sponsorship funds for or on behalf of a retail on-sale licensee who is the owner and manager of certain outdoor fairs, if certain conditions are met, as specified. This bill would make it a misdemeanor for any beer manufacturer or winegrower, through coercion or other illegal means, to induce a beer or wine wholesaler to provide those sponsorship funds, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime. 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. This person shall also be subject to license revocation pursuant to Section 24200. The Legislature finds that it is necessary and proper to require a separation between manufacturing interests, wholesale interests, and retail interests in the production and distribution of alcoholic beverages in order to prevent suppliers from dominating local markets through vertical integration and to prevent excessive sales of alcoholic beverages produced by overly aggressive marketing techniques. The Legislature further finds that the exception established by this section to the general prohibition against tied interests must be limited to its express terms so as not to undermine the general prohibition, and intends that this section be construed accordingly. Notwithstanding Section 17580 of the Government Code, unless otherwise specified, the provisions of this act shall become operative on the same date that the act takes effect pursuant to the California Constitution.