23396.6. (a) The department may issue to the holder of an off-sale retail license an instructional tasting license at the premises of the off-sale retail license. An instructional tasting license shall not be issued to any of the following:
(1) Off-sale licensees at locations where motor vehicle fuel is sold, unless the licensee operates a fully enclosed off-sale retail area encompassing at least 10,000 square feet.
(2) Off-sale licensees at locations with a total of less than 5,000 square feet of interior retail space, unless the calendar quarterly gross sales of alcoholic beverages at the licensed location comprise at least 75 percent of the total gross sales of all products sold at the licensed premises. A licenseholder that is issued an instructional tasting license pursuant to this paragraph shall maintain records that separately reflect the gross sales of alcoholic beverages and the gross sales of all other products sold on the licensed premises.
(b) The provisions of Article 2 (commencing with Section 23815) of Chapter 5 and Section 23958.4 shall not apply to the issuance of an instructional tasting license, except that the department may expressly deny the issuance of an instructional tasting license for any premises located in an area of undue concentration of licenses as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 23958.4. Notwithstanding paragraph (3) of subdivision (c), the provisions of Article 2 (commencing with Section 23985) and Article 3 (commencing with Section 24011) of Chapter 6 shall apply to the issuance of an instructional tasting license.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 23386 and paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 25612.5, an instructional tasting license authorizes the licenseholder to allow an authorized licensee or the designated representative of an authorized licensee, to conduct an instructional tasting event at which tastes of alcoholic beverages may be served to consumers subject to the following limitations, and the limitations set forth in Section 25503.56:
(1) (A) At all times during an instructional tasting event, the instructional tasting event area shall be separated from the remainder of the off-sale licensed premises by a wall, rope, cable, cord, chain, fence, or other permanent or temporary barrier. The licenseholder shall prominently display signage prohibiting persons under 21 years of age from entering the instructional tasting event area.
(B) A licenseholder that permits a person under 21 years of age to enter and remain in the instructional tasting event area during an instructional tasting event is guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person under 21 years of age who enters and remains in the instructional tasting event area during an instructional tasting event is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200), no part of which shall be suspended.
(C) The licenseholder shall not permit any consumer to leave the instructional tasting area with an open container of alcohol.
(2) The instructional tasting license shall not authorize the licenseholder to conduct any on-sale retail sales to consumers attending the instructional tasting event.
(3) Unless otherwise restricted, an instructional tasting event may take place between the hours of 10 a.m. and 9 p.m.
(d) Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions set forth in Section 25503.56 govern the construction of this section.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 29, Sec. 25. (SB 82) Effective June 27, 2019.)