25503.85. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a beer manufacturer, distilled spirits manufacturer, distilled spirits manufacturer’s agent, holder of a winegrower’s license, or California winegrower’s agent may purchase advertising space and time from, or on behalf of, an on-sale retail licensee, that shall be limited to small notices, plaques, or signs that portray partial or full sponsorship or funding of educational programs, special fundraising and promotional events, improvements in capital projects, and the development of exhibits or facilities, if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The on-sale licensee is a zoo or aquarium operated by a nonprofit organization that is accredited by the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums.
(2) The advertising space or time is purchased only in connection with the sponsorship of activities that are held on the premises or grounds owned, leased, or controlled by the on-sale licensee.
(3) The on-sale licensee serves other brands of beer distributed by a competing beer wholesaler in addition to the brand manufactured or marketed by the beer manufacturer, other brands of wine distributed by a competing wine wholesaler in addition to the brand produced or marketed by the winegrower or California winegrower’s agent, and other brands of distilled spirits distributed by a competing distilled spirits wholesaler in addition to the brand manufactured or marketed by the distilled spirits manufacturer or distilled spirits manufacturer’s agent purchasing the advertising space or time.
(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit the purchase of billboards or bench advertisements as “advertising space.”
(c) Any purchase of advertising space or time pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be accomplished by a written contract entered into by the beer manufacturer, the distilled spirits manufacturer, the distilled spirits manufacturer’s agent, a holder of the winegrower’s license, or the California winegrower’s agent, and the on-sale licensee. That contract shall not in any way involve the holder of a wholesaler’s license.
(d) Any beer manufacturer, distilled spirits manufacturer, distilled spirits manufacturer’s agent, holder of a winegrower’s license, or California winegrower’s agent who, through coercion or other illegal means, induces, directly or indirectly, a holder of a wholesaler’s license to fulfill those contractual obligations entered into pursuant to subdivision (a) or (c) is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed six months, or by a fine in an amount equal to the entire value of the advertising space or time involved in the contract, whichever is greater, plus ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both imprisonment and fine. The person shall also be subject to license revocation pursuant to Section 24200.
(e) Any on-sale licensee who, directly or indirectly, solicits or coerces a holder of a wholesaler’s license to solicit a beer manufacturer, distilled spirits manufacturer, distilled spirits manufacturer’s agent, holder of a winegrower’s license, or a California winegrower’s agent to purchase advertising space or time shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, or by a fine in an amount equal to the entire value of the advertising space or time involved in the contract, whichever is greater, plus ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both imprisonment and fine. The person shall also be subject to license revocation pursuant to Section 24200.
(f) For the purposes of this section, “beer manufacturer” includes any holder of a beer manufacturer’s license, any holder of an out-of-state beer manufacturer’s certificate, or any holder of a beer and wine importer’s general license.
(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 567, Sec. 12. Effective October 7, 2001.)
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