Alcoholic beverages: advertising.

Existing law generally restricts certain alcoholic beverage licensees, including manufacturers and winegrowers, from paying, crediting, or compensating a retailer for advertising in connection with the advertising and sale of alcoholic beverages. This bill would expressly authorize a beer manufacturer, holder of a winegrower's license, California winegrower's agent, distilled spirits manufacturer, holder of a distilled spirits rectifiers general license, or a distilled spirits manufacturer's agent to purchase advertising space or time from specified fully enclosed venues located in Los Angeles County, as described, under specified conditions. This bill would require a venue owner that enters into a written agreement pursuant to this authorization to obtain an annual certificate from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. This bill would additionally require the department to, in its annual report to the Legislature, include specified information with regard to this authorization. This bill would also make a beer manufacturer, holder of a winegrower's license, winegrower's agent, distilled spirits manufacturer, holder of a distilled spirits rectifiers general license, or a distilled spirits manufacturer's agent who, through coercion or other means, induces the holder of a wholesaler's license to fulfill those contractual obligations guilty of a misdemeanor. This bill would additionally make an on-sale retail licensee, as described, who solicits or coerces a holder of a wholesaler's license to solicit a beer manufacturer, holder of a winegrower's license, winegrower's agent, distilled spirits manufacturer, holder of a distilled spirits rectifiers general license, or a distilled spirits manufacturer's agent to purchase advertising time or space guilty of a misdemeanor. The bill thus imposes a state-mandated local program by creating new crimes. This bill would make findings regarding the need for special legislation. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.