BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 351|
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CONSENT
Bill No: AB 351
Author: Chesbro (D)
Amended: As introduced
Vote: 21
SENATE GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION COMM. : 13-0, 6/26/12
AYES: Wright, Anderson, Berryhill, Calderon, Cannella,
Corbett, De Le�n, Evans, Hernandez, Padilla, Walters,
Wyland, Yee
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 78-0, 5/19/11 (Consent) - See last page
for vote
SUBJECT : Alcoholic beverages: instruction: tastings
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill references the composition of the beer
or wine as a subject which may be included in specific type
of tastings or instruction by a winegrower, beer
manufacturer, or a beer and wine wholesaler while
instructing licensees and their employees on the subject of
wine or beer.
ANALYSIS : Existing law:
1.Establishes the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
and grants it exclusive authority to administer the
provisions of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act in
accordance with laws enacted by the Legislature.
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2.Permits a winegrower, beer manufacturer, or a beer and
wine wholesaler to instruct licensees and their employees
on the subject of wine or beer, including but not limited
to, the history, nature, values, and characteristics of
those beverages, as provided.
3.Provides that a distilled spirits manufacturers and
winegrowers are allowed to conduct tastings of their
products at specified events, as specified.
Comments
According to the California Small Brewers Association
(CSBA), "our members who represent approximately
ninety-five percent of the craft beer production in
California, are producing award-winning beers that are
increasingly being recognized and purchased in national and
international markets." As the popularity of these brands
has increased, similar to the California wine industry,
California's craft breweries have installed tasting rooms
to accommodate consumers and to facilitate tourism and
economic growth in their local communities. Craft
breweries are also taking advantage of expanded
opportunities for on-site beer tastings at restaurants and
bars.
During these tasting events, consumers consistently inquire
as to the actual composition of the beers and are curious
about specific ingredients due to various gastronomic
interests or food allergies. CSBA, states, "It is not
clear in the law that craft brewers or their
representatives are allowed to provide this information.
AB 351 will affirmatively provide this authority."
They state that by clarifying the law in this manner, this
bill will be consistent with this state's economic recovery
goals and while promoting California businesses and their
increasingly popular products to local, national and
international consumers.
Prior Legislation
SB 1548 (Murray), Chapter 670, Statutes of 2006, authorized
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beer manufacturers and wholesalers to offer beer samples
(not to exceed 8 ounces per person, per day) to individuals
of legal drinking age at on-sale retail licensed premises
under specified conditions.
AB 2285 (V. Brown), Chapter 248, Statutes of 1998, allowed
on-sale retail licensees to offer limited tastings of wine
or distilled spirits at the licensed establishment.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 6/27/12)
California Small Brewers Association
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 78-0, 5/19/11
AYES: Achadjian, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Beall, Bill
Berryhill, Block, Blumenfield, Bonilla, Bradford,
Brownley, Buchanan, Butler, Charles Calderon, Campos,
Carter, Cedillo, Chesbro, Conway, Cook, Davis, Dickinson,
Donnelly, Eng, Feuer, Fletcher, Fong, Fuentes, Furutani,
Beth Gaines, Galgiani, Garrick, Gatto, Gordon, Grove,
Hagman, Halderman, Hall, Harkey, Hayashi, Roger
Hern�ndez, Hill, Huber, Hueso, Huffman, Jeffries, Jones,
Knight, Lara, Logue, Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mansoor,
Mendoza, Miller, Mitchell, Monning, Morrell, Nestande,
Nielsen, Norby, Olsen, Pan, Perea, V. Manuel P�rez,
Portantino, Silva, Skinner, Smyth, Solorio, Swanson,
Torres, Valadao, Wagner, Wieckowski, Williams, Yamada,
John A. P�rez
NO VOTE RECORDED: Alejo, Gorell
DLW:n 6/27/12 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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