By: Parker S.B. No. 1375
 
  (King of Hemphill, Cook, Bernal)
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the sampling or tasting of distilled spirits by the
  manufacturer to a consumer at a temporary event.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 14.01(a), Alcoholic Beverage Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The holder of a distiller's and rectifier's permit may:
               (1)  manufacture distilled spirits;
               (2)  rectify, purify, and refine distilled spirits and
  wines;
               (3)  mix wines, distilled spirits, or other liquors;
               (4)  bottle, label, and package the permit holder's
  finished products;
               (5)  sell the finished products in this state to
  holders of wholesaler's permits and to qualified persons outside
  the state;
               (6)  purchase distilled spirits, to be used only for
  manufacturing or rectification purposes, from holders of
  nonresident seller's permits or distiller's and rectifier's
  permits;
               (7)  dispense free distilled spirits for consumption on
  the permitted premises under Section 14.04 or at a temporary event
  under Section 14.09;
               (8)  sell bulk alcohol produced by the permit holder
  for purposes described by Section 38.01; and
               (9)  sell distilled spirits to ultimate consumers under
  Section 14.04 or 14.05.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 14, Alcoholic Beverage Code, is amended
  by adding Section 14.09 to read as follows:
         Sec. 14.09.  DISTILLED SPIRITS SAMPLING AT TEMPORARY EVENT.
  (a)  The holder of a distiller's and rectifier's permit may conduct
  distilled spirits samplings or tastings at a civic or distilled
  spirits festival, farmers' market, celebration, or similar event.
         (b)  The distilled spirits provided as a sample or at a
  tasting under Subsection (a) must be manufactured by the holder of
  the distiller's and rectifier's permit.
         (c)  Sample portions served at a distilled spirits sampling
  or tasting under Subsection (a) may not exceed one-half ounce.
         (d)  A person who receives a sample may not remove the sample
  from the event premises.
         (e)  Distilled spirits may legally be transported by the
  holder of the distiller's and rectifier's permit or the permit
  holder's agent or employee to the temporary event for the purpose of
  providing a sample or a tasting under this section.
         (f)  The cost of the distilled spirits provided for a
  sampling or tasting under this section is the responsibility of the
  holder of the distiller's and rectifier's permit providing the
  sampling or tasting.
         (g)  The commission shall adopt rules to implement this
  section, including rules that: 
               (1)  establish a procedure to verify the wet or dry
  status of the location where the permit holder intends to
  temporarily sample or taste distilled spirits under this section;
               (2)  detail the circumstances when a permit holder may
  temporarily sample distilled spirits under this section with just a
  notification to the commission and the circumstances that require
  the commission's preapproval before a permit holder may temporarily
  sample distilled spirits under this section; and
               (3)  require the permit holder to provide any other
  information the commission determines necessary.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.