South Carolina General Assembly
118th Session, 2009-2010

Download This Version in Microsoft Word format

Bill 3693

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

AMENDED

April 15, 2010

H. 3693

Introduced by Reps. Herbkersman, Erickson, G.M. Smith, Merrill and Long

S. Printed 4/15/10--H.

Read the first time March 10, 2009.

            

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 18 TO CHAPTER 4, TITLE 61 SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERMS "MICROBREWERY" AND "LICENSED PREMISES"; TO ALLOW A MICROBREWERY OR MANUFACTURER TO CONDUCT BEER SAMPLINGS OR TASTINGS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE PAYMENT OF APPROPRIATE TAXES.

Amend Title To Conform

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Article 15, Chapter 4, Title 61 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 61-4-1515.    (A)    Notwithstanding another provision of law, a brewery in this State is authorized to offer samples of beer brewed in this State on its licensed premises, with or without cost, to consumers under the following conditions:

(1)    tastings by consumers must be held in conjunction with a tour by the consumer of the licensed premises and the entire brewing process utilized at the licensed premises;

(2)    a sample may not be offered to, or allowed to be consumed by, an intoxicated person or a person who is under the age of twenty-one;

(3)    a sample may be no more than two ounces per brand of beer with over eight percent alcohol by weight and no more than four ounces of beer with under eight percent alcohol by weight brewed at the licensed premises; and

(4)    no more than four brands of beer brewed at the licensed premises may be sampled by a consumer in a twenty-four hour period.

(B)    A brewery located in this State is authorized to sell beer on its licensed premises provided that the beer was brewed on the licensed premises with an alcohol content of fourteen percent by weight or less, subject to the following restrictions:

(1)    the maximum amount of beer that may be sold to an individual per day shall be equivalent to two hundred eighty-eight ounces in total;

(2)    the beer may only be sold in conjunction with a tour by the consumer of the licensed premises and the entire brewing process utilized at the licensed premises;

(3)    the beer sold is for personal use only and cannot be resold;

(4)    the beer cannot be sold to anyone holding a retail beer and wine license for the purpose of resale in their establishment;

(5)    the brewery must sell the beer at the licensed premises at a price approximating retail prices generally charged for identical beverages in the county where the licensed premises are located; and

(6)    the brewery must remit taxes to the Department of Revenue for beer sales in an amount equal to and in a manner required for taxes assessed by Section 12-21-1020 and Section 12-21-1030. The brewery must also remit appropriate sales and use taxes and local hospitality taxes."

SECTION    2.    Section 61-4-940(B), (C), and (F) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(B)    Except as provided in subsection (C), a manufacturer, brewer, importer, or wholesaler of beer, or a person acting on his behalf, must not furnish, give, rent, lend, or sell, directly or indirectly, to the holder of a retail permit any equipment, fixtures, free beer, or service. The holder of a retail permit, or a person acting on his behalf, must not accept, directly or indirectly, any equipment, fixtures, free beer, or service referred to in this subsection from a manufacturer, brewer, importer, or wholesaler of beer, except as provided in subsection (C). With the consent of a holder of a retail permit, the wholesaler may store for a temporary period at the permit holder's licensed location equipment primarily utilized by the wholesaler in delivery and stocking of beer including, but not limited to, pallets, carts, and handtrucks.

(C)    A wholesaler may furnish at no charge to the holder of a retail permit draft beer equipment replacement parts of nominal value, including washers, gaskets, hoses, hose connectors, clamps, and tap markers, party wagons for temporary use, and point of sale advertising specialties. A wholesaler may furnish at no charge to the holder of a retail permit product displays pursuant to the provisions of 27 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 6.83, excluding electronic refrigeration equipment. A wholesaler may also furnish the following services to a retailer: cleaning draught lines, setting boxes, rotating stock, affixing price tags to beer products, and building beer displays.

(F)    No person or entity in the beer business on one tier may require a person or entity in the beer business on another tier to advertise or participate in a discount or special promotion or furnish the items delineated in subsection (C)."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on April 15, 2010 at 7:21 PM