California · Business and Professions Code - BPC

BPC §25503.26: (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a beer manufacturer, the holder of a winegrower’s license, a California winegrower’s agent, a manufacturer of distilled spirits, or distilled s

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

Alcohol manufacturers and agents may purchase advertising at certain large arenas under specific conditions. Using coercion or illegal means to force wholesalers to fulfill such contracts is a misdemeanor.

Read the full statutory text
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a beer manufacturer, the holder of a winegrower’s license, a California winegrower’s agent, a manufacturer of distilled spirits, or distilled spirits manufacturer’s agent, may purchase advertising space and time from, or on behalf of, an on-sale retail licensee subject to all of the following conditions: (1) The on-sale licensee is the owner, or is the lessee, or is a wholly owned subsidiary of the lessee, of an arena with a fixed seating capacity in excess of 10,000 seats, at least 60 percent of the use of which is for horseracing events, and which is located within Los Angeles County, Alameda County, or San Mateo County. (2) The advertising space or time is purchased only in connection with events to be held on the premises of the arena owned or leased by the on-sale licensee. (3) The on-sale licensee serves other brands of beer distributed by a competing beer wholesaler in addition to the brand manufactured or marketed by the beer manufacturer, other brands of wine distributed by a competing wine wholesaler in addition to the brand produced or marketed by the winegrower or California winegrower’s agent and other brands of distilled spirits distributed by a competing distilled spirits wholesaler in addition to the brand manufactured or marketed by the distilled spirits manufacturer or distilled spirits manufacturer’s agent purchasing the advertising space or time. (b) Any purchase of advertising space or time pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be conducted pursuant to a written contract entered into by the beer manufacturer, the holder of the winegrower’s license, the California winegrower’s agent, the manufacturer of distilled spirits, or distilled spirits manufacturer’s agent, and the on-sale licensee. (c) Any beer manufacturer, holder of a winegrower’s license, California winegrower’s agent, manufacturer of distilled spirits, or the distilled spirits manufacturer’s agent, who, through coercion or other illegal means, induces, directly or indirectly, a holder of a wholesaler’s license to fulfill the contractual obligations entered into pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, or by a fine in an amount equal to the entire value of the advertising space or time involved in the contract, whichever is greater, plus ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both imprisonment and fine. The person shall also be subject to license revocation pursuant to Section 24200. (d) Any on-sale licensee who, directly or indirectly, solicits or coerces a holder of a wholesaler’s license to solicit a beer manufacturer, a holder of a winegrower’s license, a California winegrower’s agent, a distilled spirits manufacturer, or a distilled spirits manufacturer’s agent, to purchase advertising space or time shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, or by a fine in an amount equal to the entire value of the advertising space or time involved in the contract, whichever is greater, plus ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both imprisonment and fine. The person shall also be subject to license revocation pursuant to Section 24200. (e) For the purposes of this section, “beer manufacturer” includes any holder of a beer manufacturer’s license, any holder of an out-of-state beer manufacturer’s certificate, or any holder of a beer and wine importer’s general license.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.