MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2020 Regular Session
To: Tourism
By: Senator(s) Younger
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 67-1-52, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE AND WINE TASTING OR SAMPLING EVENTS ON THE PREMISES OF A PERMITTED PACKAGE RETAILER; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 67-1-52, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-52. A package
retailer's permit issued under Section 67-1-51(b) shall, with prior written
approval from the department, authorize tasting or sampling events to be
conducted at the package retailer's permitted place of business during which
tastes or samples of alcoholic beverages or wine may be offered or
served to consumers at no cost. During a tasting or sampling event authorized
by this section, limited amounts of alcoholic beverages or wine may be
consumed on the permitted place of business. A tasting or sampling event shall
not authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages or wine for consumption on
the permitted place of business, but shall only authorize the limited
consumption of alcoholic beverages or wine at the permitted place of
business for the sole purpose of tasting or sampling various alcoholic
beverages or wine. A tasting or sampling event shall be conducted
completely within an area that is cordoned off by barriers clearly separating
the event from the point of sale of any alcoholic beverage or wine and
may last not longer than * * * four (4) hours one (1) business day. No one under
twenty-one (21) years of age or who is obviously intoxicated may
participate in a tasting or sampling event and a sign indicating this shall be
placed in a clearly visible location at the entrance to the area where the
tasting or sampling event will be conducted. No food may be served or sold at a
tasting or sampling event. Each sample of wine served at the event shall not
exceed * * * two (2) ounces, and no more than a
cumulative total of five (5) ounces of wine may be dispensed to any one (1)
person during a tasting or sampling event. Each sample of a distilled spirit
served at the event shall not exceed * * * one (1)
ounce and no more than a cumulative total of * * * two (2) ounces of
distilled spirits may be dispensed to any one (1) person during a tasting or
sampling event. All products tasted or sampled at the event must be
provided by the package retailer from its inventory. Such product cannot be a
sample product provided by a manufacturer and must have been purchased from the
department warehouse or from a licensed wholesaler. Only employees of the
package retailer may serve any product for tasting or sampling at the event.
Tickets for a tasting or sampling event shall not be sold in the permitted
place of business or any other location. The holder of a tasting or sampling
event shall keep an accurate accounting of the various alcoholic beverages and
amounts consumed at each tasting or sampling event and must provide a copy of
the accounting to the department within ten (10) days of completion of the
event. The holder of a package retailer's permit may conduct not more than * * * two
(2) events in any month.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.