(a) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this division, an incorporated beer manufacturer’s trade association may conduct beer tastings on behalf of one or more licensed beer manufacturers for public educational purposes. Beer tastings conducted by an incorporated beer manufacturer’s trade association may be conducted for groups of individuals unaffiliated with a sponsoring nonprofit organization, provided that the participants do not exceed 100 in number at any beer tasting event.

(2) Beer shall not be sold or solicited for sale in that portion of the premises where the beer tasting is being conducted. Notwithstanding Section 25600, a licensed beer manufacturer may provide beer without charge to an incorporated beer manufacturer’s trade association for any tastings conducted pursuant to this section.

(b) For purposes of this section:

(1) “Affiliated with the sponsor” means directors, officers, members, employees, and volunteers of bona fide charitable, fraternal, political, religious, trade, service, or similar nonprofit organizations and their invited guests.

(2) “Nonprofit organization” does not include any community college or other institution of higher learning, as defined in the Education Code, nor does it include any officially recognized club, fraternity, or sorority, whether or not that entity is located on or off the institution’s campus.

(c) The incorporated beer manufacturer’s trade association shall first obtain a permit from the department for each tasting event at a fee equal to the fee for a special temporary license for beer and wine, as specified in Section 24045.

(d) The department may adopt rules and regulations as it determines to be necessary for the administration of this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 29, Sec. 16. (SB 82) Effective June 27, 2019.)