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District of Columbia Code Division V. Local Business Affairs § 25-118. Tasting permit requirements and qualifications.

Current as of January 01, 2024 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) A tasting permit shall be issued only to a licensee under a manufacturer's license, class A, B, or C, a retailer's license, class A or B, or a wholesaler's license, class A or B, to utilize a portion of its licensed premises for the tasting of products as listed in subsection (c) of this section.

(b) Containers of alcoholic beverages used for sampling purposes shall be labeled as such and may not be sold.

(c) Except as provided in subsection (g)(2) of this section, a licensee that holds a tasting permit shall not provide to a customer, in one day, samples greater than the following quantities:

(1) 3 ounces of spirits;

(2) 6 ounces of wines; and

(3) 12 ounces of beer.

(d) A tasting permit shall be valid for 3 years.

(e) The holder of a manufacturer's license, class A, may utilize a portion of the licensed premises for the sampling of wine and spirits, the holder of a manufacturer's license, class B, may utilize a portion of the licensed premises for the sampling of beer, and the holder of a manufacturer's license, class C, may utilize a portion of the licensed premises for the sampling of alcohol-infused confectionary food products between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m., 7 days a week.

(f)(1) The holder of a wholesaler's license, class A, may utilize a portion of the licensed premises for the sampling of beer, wine, and spirits, and the holder of a wholesaler's license, class B, may utilize a portion of the licensed premises for the sampling of beer between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m., 7 days a week.

(2) Wholesaler tastings shall:

(A) Not be open to the public;

(B) Be for the purpose of educating staff and introducing products to licensees; and

(C) Be limited to the following:

(i) Retailers;

(ii) Manufacturers;

(iii) Temporary and festival license holders;

(iv) Solicitors; and

(v) Wholesaler staff.

(3) The Board may approve the holder of a wholesaler's license, class A or B, that has obtained a tasting permit for its licensed premises to conduct tastings not open to the public at a designated common area of a storage facility where the wholesaler is a tenant.

(f-1)(1) The holder of an off-premises retailer's license, class AI, may utilize a portion of the licensed premises for the sampling of beer, wine, and spirits during its approved hours of operation; provided, that the tastings are:

(A) Not open to the public; and

(B) Limited to temporary and festival license holders and caterers.

(2) The holder of an off-premises retailer's license, class BI, may utilize a portion of the licensed premises for the sampling of beer and wine during its approved hours; provided, that the tastings are:

(A) Not open to the public; and

(B) Limited to temporary and festival license holders.

(3) The Board may approve the holder of an off-premises retailer's license, class AI or BI, that has obtained a tasting permit for its licensed premises to conduct tastings closed to the public at a designated common area of a storage facility where the licensee is a tenant.

(g)(1) The Board may issue a tasting permit to a private collector to conduct tastings closed to the public between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m., 7 days a week.

(2) A private collector who holds a tasting permit may exceed the 6 ounce sampling limit for wine set forth in subsection (c)(2) of this section; provided, that the private collector does not serve customers more than 2 ounce servings of wine at a time.

(h) For the purposes of this section, the term:

(1) “Storage facility” means a bonded warehouse in the District of Columbia licensed by the Board for the storage of alcoholic beverages.

(2) “Tasting” means a gathering at which an authorized licensee provides samples of spirits, wine, and beer to people to compare and evaluate.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - District of Columbia Code Division V. Local Business Affairs § 25-118. Tasting permit requirements and qualifications. - last updated January 01, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/dc/division-v-local-business-affairs/dc-code-sect-25-118/

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