Alcoholic beverages: tied-house restrictions: instructional events and promotional lectures: advertisements.

Throughout Sections 25503.4(c), 25503.45(b), and 25503.56(g), the phrase 'may contain or consist of pictures, illustrations, videos, and depictions of the retailer's premises, personnel, and customers, graphical depictions' was corrected to 'may contain or consist of pictures, illustrations, videos, and graphical depictions,' removing a redundant and grammatically awkward repetition caused by the amendment process.

Multiple instances of the garbled phrase 'may list or reference list, reference, or include' were cleaned up to simply 'may list, reference, or include' throughout Sections 25503.4(c), 25503.4(d), 25503.45(b), and 25503.56(g).

A typo in Section 25503.4(d) was corrected: 'any other electronic media media' changed to 'any other electronic media.'

The legislative counsel's digest was updated to remove 'video' from the short title (now reads 'advertisements' instead of 'video advertisements') and the description of the bill's effect was reworded for clarity, removing a garbled insertion that read 'contain include videos up to 60 seconds long.'

Videos up to 60 seconds in duration are now explicitly permitted in advertisements for wine instructional events (Section 25503.4), beer instructional events (Section 25503.45), and off-sale instructional tasting events (Section 25503.56). Previously, Section 25503.56(g) required that pictures and depictions be 'still' only and prohibited video entirely.

The requirement that retailer or licenseholder information, pictures, illustrations, and depictions be 'relatively inconspicuous in relation to the advertisement as a whole' is removed from Sections 25503.4(c), 25503.45(b), and 25503.56(g). This means producers can now make retailer imagery more prominent in event advertisements.

Advertisements may now 'contain or consist of' pictures, illustrations, videos, and depictions (previously only 'contain'). This allows an advertisement to be made up entirely of visual media rather than requiring text-based content as the primary element.

Section 25503.56(h) previously specified that licenseholder advertising for instructional tasting events was limited to 'flyers, newspaper ads, internet communications, and interior signage.' This specific list is removed, leaving the form of advertisement unrestricted (subject only to other provisions of the division).

Section 25503.4(d) for wine promotional lectures now explicitly authorizes advertisements to include pictures, illustrations, videos, and depictions of the winegrower, wine importer, or winegrower's agent licensee, and allows the ad to consist entirely of such visual content including graphical depictions.

'Graphical depictions' are added as a new permitted form of advertising content alongside pictures, illustrations, and videos in all three sections governing event advertising.

Language is broadened from 'may list or reference' to 'may list, reference, or include' in Sections 25503.4(c), 25503.4(d), 25503.45(b), and 25503.56(g), expanding the types of content that can be incorporated into event advertisements.

The bill now amends four code sections (25503.4, 25503.45, 25503.56, and 25503.57) instead of just Section 25503.4, expanding coverage from wine instructional events at retail to a full framework for wine, beer, and distilled spirits tastings at both on-sale and off-sale premises.

New Section 25503.45 authorizes licensed beer manufacturers or beer and wine importer general license holders to conduct instructional events at on-sale retail premises, including serving beer sold by the retailer. Advertising may include videos up to 60 seconds. A beer and wine wholesaler is explicitly excluded from acting as a representative of a beer manufacturer.

New Section 25503.56 authorizes instructional tasting events for wine, beer, or distilled spirits at off-sale retail licensed premises (instructional tasting license area). Limits are set: no more than 3 tastings per person per day for wine or spirits (1 oz wine, 1/4 oz spirits per tasting) and 8 ounces of beer per person per day. No charge may be made for tastings.

New Section 25503.57 authorizes instructional tastings of wine or distilled spirits at on-sale retail licensed premises, limited to 3 tastings per person per day (1 oz wine, 1/4 oz spirits). Only one authorized licensee may conduct a tasting at a given premises at a time, and a representative cannot act for more than one authorized licensee at the same event.

In Section 25503.4(c), the requirement that retailer information and images be 'relatively inconspicuous in relation to the advertisement as a whole' is removed. In its place, the ad simply must not contain retail prices and must not promote the retailer beyond its participation in the event. Videos up to 60 seconds are now explicitly permitted.

In Section 25503.56(h) and 25503.57(e), the provision specifying that permitted advertising includes 'flyers, newspaper ads, internet communications, and interior signage' is removed, leaving the licenseholder free to advertise by any means without an enumerated list of permitted formats.

Section 25503.56(b) defines 'authorized licensee' to include winegrowers, beer and wine importers, wholesalers, rectifiers, craft distillers, distilled spirits manufacturers and agents, brandy manufacturers and importers, beer manufacturers, and others, while excluding entities that solely hold a combination of beer and wine wholesale and off-sale retail licenses or a limited off-sale retail wine license.

Section 25503.56(k) prohibits collusion between licenseholders and authorized licensees regarding instructional tasting events as a condition for carrying brands or shelf space agreements. Violations result in suspension of the instructional tasting license and the authorized licensee's event privilege for 6 months to 1 year.

Section 25503.56(l) adds a legislative finding that the tied-house exception must be construed narrowly to prevent suppliers from dominating local markets through vertical integration and excessive sales via aggressive marketing techniques.