(a) An on-sale general license authorizes the sale of beer, wine, and distilled spirits for consumption on the premises where sold. Any licensee under an on-sale general license, an on-sale beer and wine license, a club license, or a veterans’ club license may apply to the department for a caterer’s permit. A caterer’s permit under an on-sale general license shall authorize the sale of beer, wine, and distilled spirits for consumption at conventions, sporting events, trade exhibits, picnics, social gatherings, or similar events held any place in the state approved by the department. A caterer’s permit under an on-sale beer and wine license shall authorize the sale of beer and wine for consumption at conventions, sporting events, trade exhibits, picnics, social gatherings, or similar events held any place in the state approved by the department. A caterer’s permit under a club license or a veterans’ club license shall authorize sales at these events only upon the licensed club premises.

(b) Any licensee under an on-sale general license or an on-sale beer and wine license may apply to the department for an event permit. An event permit under an on-sale general license or an on-sale beer and wine license shall authorize, at events held no more frequently than four days in any single calendar year, the sale of beer, wine, and distilled spirits only under an on-sale general license or beer and wine only under an on-sale beer and wine license for consumption on property adjacent to the licensed premises and owned or under the control of the licensee. This property shall be secured and controlled by the licensee and not visible to the general public.

(c) (1) This section shall in no way limit the power of the department to issue special licenses under the provisions of Section 24045 or to issue daily on-sale general licenses under the provisions of Section 24045.1. Consent for sales at each event shall be first obtained from the department in the form of a catering or event authorization issued pursuant to rules prescribed by it. Any event authorization shall be subject to approval by the appropriate local law enforcement agency. The daily fee for each catering or event authorization shall be based on the estimated attendance at each day of the event, as follows:

(A) One hundred dollars ($100) when anticipated attendance is less than 1,000 people.

(B) Three hundred twenty-five dollars ($325) when anticipated attendance is at least 1,000 people and less than 5,000 people.

(C) One thousand dollars ($1,000) when anticipated attendance is 5,000 people or more.

(2) All fees collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the Alcohol Beverage Control Fund as provided in Section 25761.

(d) At all approved events, the licensee may exercise only those privileges authorized by the licensee’s license and shall comply with all provisions of the act pertaining to the conduct of on-sale premises and violation of those provisions may be grounds for suspension or revocation of the licensee’s license or permit, or both, as though the violation occurred on the licensed premises.

(e) The fee for a caterer’s permit for a licensee under an on-sale general license, a caterer’s permit for a licensee under an on-sale beer and wine license, or an event permit for a licensee under an on-sale general license or an on-sale beer and wine license shall be the annual fee as specified in subdivision (b) of Section 23320, and the fee for a caterer’s permit for a licensee under a club license or a veterans’ club license shall be as specified in Section 23320, and the permit may be renewable annually at the same time as the licensee’s license. A caterer’s or event permit shall be transferable as a part of the license.

(f) A catering authorization shall not be issued for use at any one premises for more than 36 events in one calendar year, except when the department determines additional events may be catered to satisfy substantial public demand.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 656, Sec. 2. (SB 314) Effective October 8, 2021.)