§ 6-307. Prerequisites for authorization to conduct.

Notwithstanding any part hereof to the contrary, the county hereby authorizes tastings to be conducted by retail dealer licensees in accordance with this section. The term "tasting" shall be defined for purposes herein as the gratuitous service of wine or malt beverages for educational purposes. It is unlawful for any person or licensee to conduct tastings within the county unless authorized in accordance with this section. Tastings of distilled spirits are strictly prohibited. Tastings shall not be authorized until the following prerequisites are fully satisfied, as determined by the county:

(a)

A retail dealer that wishes to conduct tastings shall submit an application for a tasting permit to the county manager. The county manager may reject the application if the applicant fails to establish that the licensee is able to conduct tastings without violating any of the provisions of this section.

(b)

The application shall include the name of the licensee, the address of the licensed premises, and the person who is submitting the notice.

(c)

The notice must state and affirm that the licensee wishing to conduct such tasting shall do so in accordance with the provisions of this section, and without creating a public safety risk to the surrounding neighborhood.

(d)

The alcoholic beverage tasting permit shall be valid for one calendar year and run concurrently with the alcoholic beverage license.

(e)

Tastings authorized pursuant to this section shall be allowed only for a retail dealer operating within the county whose license is valid and in full force and effect.

(f)

Tastings, once approved, shall be subject to the following limitations:

(1)

Tastings shall be conducted only by a person who is either a retail dealer, or an employee of a licensee, and only on a licensee's licensed premises.

(2)

The alcohol used in tastings shall be purchased through a licensed wholesaler, licensed brew pub, or winery licensed pursuant to state law.

(3)

The size of an individual alcohol sample shall not exceed one ounce of malt beverage or wine.

(4)

Tastings shall not exceed a total of three consecutive hours in duration per day.

(5)

Tastings shall be conducted only during the operating hours in which the licensee on whose premises the tastings occur is permitted to sell alcoholic beverages, and in no case earlier than 11:00 a.m. or later than 9:00 p.m.

(6)

The licensee shall promptly remove all open and unconsumed alcoholic beverage samples from the licensed premises or shall destroy the samples immediately following the completion of the tasting.

(7)

The licensee shall not serve a person who is under 21 years of age or who is visibly intoxicated.

(8)

The licensee shall not serve more than six individual samples to a patron during a tasting.

(9)

Alcohol samples shall be in open containers and shall be provided to a customer free of charge.

(Ord. of 6-22-2016, Exh. A)