Req. No. 3570 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024) COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL 2001 By: Coleman COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE An Act relating to alcoholic beverages; amending 37A O.S. 2021, Section 1 -103, as amended by Section 2, Chapter 338, O.S.L. 2023 (37A O.S. Supp. 2023, Section 1-103), which relates to definitions; defining term; amending 37A O.S. 2021, Section 2 -109, which relates to retail spirits license; permitting an employee to sample alcoholic beverages under certain circumstances; specifying amount to be used in tastings; providing for procedure of tastings that shall occur; allowing for certain resealing and storing; exempting samples from certain excise ta x provisions; amending 37A O.S. 2021, Section 6 -105, as amended by Section 2, Chapter 82, O.S.L. 2022 (37A O.S. Supp. 2023, Section 6-105), which relates to prohibited acts of mixed beverage, public event, special event, or on-premises beer and wine licensees; providing exception; amending 37A O.S. 2021, Section 6-109, which relates to prohibited acts; permitting an employee to sample alcoholic beverages under certain circumstances; specifying amount to be used in t astings; providing for procedure of tastings that shall occur; allowing for certain resealing and storing; exempting samples from certain excise tax provisions; updating statutory language; updating sta tutory reference; and declaring an emergency. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: Req. No. 3570 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 37A O.S. 2021, Section 1 -103, as amended by Section 2, Chapter 338, O.S.L. 2023 (37A O.S. Supp. 2023, Section 1-103), is amended to read as follows: Section 1-103. As used in the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act: 1. “ABLE Commission” or “Commission” means the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission; 2. “Alcohol” means and includes hydrated oxide of ethyl, ethyl alcohol, ethanol or spirits of wine, from whatever source or by whatever process produc ed. It does not include wood alcohol or alcohol which has been denatured or produced as denatured in accordance with Acts of Congress and regulations promulgated thereunder; 3. “Alcoholic beverage” means alcohol, spirits, beer and wine as those terms are defined herein and also includes every liquid or solid, patented or not, containing alcohol, spirits, wine or beer and capable of being consumed as a beverage by human beings; 4. “Applicant” means any individual, legal or commercial business entity, or a ny individual involved in any legal or commercial business entity allowed to hold any license issued in accordance with the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act; 5. “Beer” means any beverage containing more than one-half of one percent (0.50%) of alcohol by volume and obtained by the alcoholic fermentation of an infusion or decoction of barley, or Req. No. 3570 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 other grain, sugar, malt or similar products. For the purposes of taxation, distribution, sales, and regulation, seltze r shall mean the same as beer as prov ided in this section. Beer may or may not contain hops or other vegetable products. Beer includes, among other things, beer, ale, stout, lager beer, porter, seltzer, and other malt or brewed liquors, but does not include sake, known as Japanese rice wine; 6. “Beer keg” means any brewer-sealed, single container that contains not less than four (4) gallons of be er; 7. “Beer distributor” means and includes any person licensed to distribute beer for retail sale in the this state, but does not include a holder of a small brewer self-distribution license or brewpub self-distribution license. The term distributor, as used in the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, shall be construed to refer to a beer distributor; 8. “Bottle club” means any establishment in a county which has not authorized the retail sale of alcoholic beverages by the individual drink, which is r equired to be licensed to keep, mix and serve alcoholic beverages belonging to club members on club premises; 9. “Bottle service” means the sale and provision of spirits in their original packages by a mixed be verage licensee to be consumed in that mixed beverage licensee’s club suite; Req. No. 3570 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 10. “Brand” means any word, name, group of letters, symbol or combination thereof, that is adopted and used by a licensed brewer to identify a specific beer, wine or spirit and to distinguish that product from another beer, wine or spirit; 11. “Brand extension” means: a. after October 1, 2018, an y brand of beer or cider introduced by a manufacturer in this state which either: (1) incorporates all or a substantial part of the unique features of a preexisting brand of the same licensed brewer, or (2) relies to a significant extent on the goodwill associated with the preexisting brand, or b. any brand of beer that a brewer, the majority of whose total volume of all brands of bee r distributed in this state by such brewer on Janu ary 1, 2016, was distributed as low-point beer, desires to sell, introduces, begins selling or theretofore has sold and desires to continue selling a strong beer in this state which either: (1) incorporates or incorporated all or a substantial part of the unique features of a preexisting low- point beer brand of the same licensed brewer, or Req. No. 3570 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (2) relies or relied to a significant extent on the goodwill associated with a preexisting low-point beer brand; 12. “Brewer” means and includes any person who manufactu res for human consumption by the use of raw materials or other ingredie nts any beer or cider upon which a license fee and a tax are imposed by any law of this state; 13. “Brewpub” means a licensed establishment opera ted on the premises of, or on premises located contiguous to, a small brewer, that prepares and serves food an d beverages, including alcoholic beverages, for on-premises consumption; 14. “Cider” means any alcoholic beverage obtained by the alcoholic fermentation of fruit juice, including but n ot limited to flavored, sparkling or carbonated cider. For the purposes of the manufacture of this product, cider may be manufactured by either manufacturers or brewers. For the purposes of the distribution of this product, cider may be distributed by either wine and spirits wholesalers or beer distributors; 15. “Club suite” means a designated area within the premises of a mixed beverage licensee designed to provide an exclusive space which is limited to a patron or patrons specifically granted access by a mixed beverage licensee and is not accessible to other patrons of the mixed beverage licensee or the public. A club suite must have a clearly designated point of access for a patron or patrons Req. No. 3570 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 specifically granted access by the mixed beverage licensee to ensure that persons present in the suite are limited to patrons specifically granted access by the mixed beverage licensee and employees providing services to the club suite; 16. “Convenience store” means any person primarily engaged in retailing a limited range of general household items and groceries, with extended hours of operation, whether or not engaged in retail sales of automotive fuels in combination with such sales; 17. “Convicted” and “conviction” mean and include a finding of guilt resulting from a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, the decision of a court or magistrate or the verdict of a jury, irrespective of the pronouncement of judgment or the suspension thereof; 18. “Designated products” means the brands of wine or spirits offered for sale by a manufacturer that the manufacturer has assigned to a designat ed wholesaler for exclusive distribution; 19. “Designated wholesaler” means a wine and spirits wholesaler who has been selected by a manufa cturer as a wholesale r appointed to distribute designated products; 20. “Director” means the Director of the ABLE C ommission; 21. “Distiller” means any person who produces spirits from any source or substance, or any person who brews or makes mash, wort or wash, fit for distillation or for the prod uction of spirits (except a person making or using such material in the authorized production Req. No. 3570 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 of wine or beer, or the production of vinegar by fermentation), or any person who by any process separates alcoholi c spirits from any fermented substance, or any person who, making or keeping mash, wort or wash, has also in his or he r possession or use a still; 22. “Distributor agreement” means the written agreement between the distributor and brewer as set forth i n Section 3-108 of this title; 23. “Drug store” means a person primarily engaged in retailing prescription and nonprescr iption drugs and medicines; 24. “Dual-strength beer” means a brand of beer that, immediately prior to April 15, 2017, was being sold a nd distributed in this state: a. as a low-point beer pursuant to the Low-Point Beer Distribution Act in effect immediatel y prior to October 1, 2018, and b. as strong beer pursuant to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act in effect immediately prior to October 1, 2018, and continues to be sold and distributed as such on October 1, 2018. Dual-strength beer does not include a bra nd of beer that arose as a result of a brand extension as defined in this section; 25. “Fair market value” means the value in the subject territory covered by t he written agreement with the distributor or wholesaler that would be determined in an arm’s length transaction Req. No. 3570 Page 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 entered into without duress or threat of termination of the distributor’s or wholesaler’s rights and shall include all elements of value, including goodwill and going -concern value; 26. “Good cause” means: a. failure by the distributor to comply with the material and reasonable provisions of a written agreement or understanding with the br ewer, or b. failure by the distributor to comply with the duty of good faith; 27. “Good faith” means the duty of each party to any distributor agreement and all officers, employees or agents thereof to act with honesty in fact and within reasonable standards of fair dealing in the trade; 28. “Grocery store” means a person primarily e ngaged in retailing a general line of food, such as canned or f rozen foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, and fresh and prepared meats, fish and poultry; 29. “Hotel” or “motel” means an establishment which is licensed to sell alcoholic beverages by the individual drink and which contains guestroom guest room accommodations with respect to wh ich the predominant relationship existing between the occupants thereof and the owner or operator of the establishment is that of innkeeper and guest. For purposes of this section, the existence of other Req. No. 3570 Page 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 legal relationships as between some occupants and t he owner or operator thereof shall be immaterial; 30. “Legal newspaper” means a newspaper meeting the requisites of a newspaper for publication of legal notices as presc ribed in Sections 101 through 114 of Title 25 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 31. “Licensee” means any person holding a license under the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, and any agent, servant or employee of such licensee while in the performance of any act or duty in connection with the licensed business or on the licensed premises; 32. “Low-point beer” shall mean any beverages containing more than one-half of one percent (1/2 of 1%) alcohol by volume, and not more than three and two -tenths percent (3.2%) alcohol by weight, including but not limited to, beer or cereal malt beverages ob tained by the alcoholic fermentation of an infusion by barley or other grain, malt or similar produc ts; 33. “Manufacturer” means a distiller, winemaker, rectifier or bottler of any alcoholic beverage (other than beer) and its subsidiaries, affiliates and parent companies; 34. “Manufacturer’s agent” means a salaried or commissioned salesperson who is the agent authorized to act on behalf of the manufacturer or nonresident seller in the this state; 35. “Meals” means foods commonly ordered at lunch or dinner and at least part of which is cooked on the licensed premises and Req. No. 3570 Page 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 requires the use of dining implements for consumption. Provided, that the service of only food such as appetizers, sandwiches, salads or desserts shall not be considere d meals; 36. “Mini-bar” means a closed container, either refrigerated in whole or in part, or nonrefrigerated unrefrigerated, and access to the interior of which is: a. restricted by means of a locking device which requires the use of a key, magnetic card or similar device, or b. controlled at all times by the licensee; 37. “Mixed beverage cooler” means any beverage, by whatever name designated, consisting of an alcoholic beverage and fruit or vegetable juice, fruit or vegetable flavorings, dairy products or carbonated water containing more than one-half of one percent (1/2 of 1%) of alcohol measured by volume but not more than seven percent (7%) alcohol by volume at sixty (60) degrees Fahrenheit and which is packaged in a container not larger than three hundred seve nty-five (375) milliliters. Such term shall include but not be limited to the beverage popularly known as a “wine cooler”; 38. “Mixed beverages” means one or more servings of a beverage composed in whole or in part of an alcoholic beverage in a sealed or unsealed container of any legal size for consumption on the premises where served or sold by the holder of a mixed beverage, beer and wine, caterer, public event, charitable event or special event license; Req. No. 3570 Page 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 39. “Motion picture theater” means an establishment which is licensed by Section 2-110 of this title to sell alcoholic beverages by the individual drink and where motion pictures are exhibited, and to which the general public is admitted; 40. “Nondesignated products” means the brands of wine or spirits offered for sal e by a manufacturer that have not been assigned to a designated wholesaler; 41. “Nonresident seller” means any person licensed pursuant to Section 2-135 of this title; 42. “Retail salesperson” means a salesperson soliciting orders from and calling upon retail alcoholic beverage stores with regard to his or her product; 43. “Occupation” as used in connection with “occupation tax” means the sites occupied as the places of business of the manufacturers, brewers, wholesalers, beer distributors, r etailers, mixed beverage licensees, on-premises beer and wine licensees, bottle clubs, caterers, public event and special eve nt licensees; 44. “Original package” means any container of alcohol ic beverage filled and stamped or sealed by the manufacture r or brewer; 45. “Package store” means any sole proprietor or partnership that qualifies to sell wine, beer and/or spirits for off-premises consumption and that is not a grocery store, convenienc e store or drug store, or other retail outlet that is not permitted to sell wine or beer for off-premises consumption; Req. No. 3570 Page 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 46. “Patron” means any person, customer or visitor who is not employed by a licensee or who is not a licensee; 47. “Person” means an individual, any type of partnership, corporation, association, limited liability company or any individual involved in the legal structure of any such business entity; 48. “Premises” means the grounds and all buildings and appurtenances pertaining to the grounds including any adjacent premises if under the direct or indire ct control of the licensee and the rooms and equipment under th e control of the licensee and used in connection with or in furtherance of the business covered by a license. Provided, that the ABLE Commission shall have the authority to designate areas to be excluded from the licensed premises solely for the purpose of: a. allowing the presence and consumption of alcoholic beverages by private parties which are closed to the general public, or b. allowing the services of a caterer serving alcoholic beverages provided by a private party. This exception shall in no way li mit the licensee’s concurrent responsibility for any viola tions of the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act occurrin g on the licensed premises; 49. “Private event” means a social gather ing or event attended by invited guests who share a common cause, membership, business or Req. No. 3570 Page 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 task and have a prior established relationship. For purposes of this definition, advertisement for general public at tendance or sales of tickets to the general publi c shall not constitute a private event; 50. “Public event” means any event that can be attended by the general public; 51. “Rectifier” means any person who rectifies, purifies or refines spirits or wines by any process (other than by original and continuous distillation, or original and continuous processing, from mash, wort, wash or other substance, through continuous closed vessels and pipes, until the production thereof is complete ), and any person who, without rectifying, purifying or refining spirits, shall by mixing (except for immediate consumption on the premises where mixed) such spirits, wine or other liquor with any material, manufactures any spurious, imitation or compound liquors for sale, under the name of whiskey, brandy, rum, gin, wine, spirits, cordials or any other name; 52. “Regulation” or “rule” means a formal rule of general application promulgated by the ABLE Commission as herein required; 53. “Restaurant” means an establishment that i s licensed to sell alcoholic beverages by the individual drink for on-premises consumption and where food is prepared and sold for immediate consumption on the premises; Req. No. 3570 Page 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 54. “Retail container for spirits and wines ” means an original package of any capacity approved by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; 55. “Retailer” means a package store, grocery store, convenience store or drug store licensed to sell alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption purs uant to a Retail Spirits License retail spirits license , Retail Wine License retail wine license or Retail Beer License retail beer license; 56. “Sale” means any transfer, exchange or barter in any manner or by any means what soever, and includes and means all sales made by any person, whether as principal, proprieto r or as an agent, servant or employee. The term sale is also declared to be and include the use or consumption in this state of any alcoholic beverage obtained within or imported from without this state, upon which the excise tax levied by the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act has not been paid or exempted; 57. “Seltzer” means any beverage containing more than one-half of one percent (0.50%) of alcohol by volume and obtained by the alcoholic fermentation of malt, rice, grain of any kind, bran, glucose, sugar, or molasses and combined with carbonated water and other flavoring and labeled as “beer” by the Internal Revenue Code; provided, that seltzer shall not include carbonated beverages mixed with wine or spirits ; Req. No. 3570 Page 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 58. “Short-order food” means food other than full meals including but not limited to s andwiches, soups and salads. Provided, that popcorn, chips and other similar snack food shall not be considered short-order food; 59. “Small brewer” means a brewer who manufactures less than sixty-five thousand (65,000) barrels of beer annually pursuant to a validly issued Small Brewer License small brewer license hereunder; 60. “Small farm wine” means a wine that is produced by a s mall farm winery with seventy-five percent (75%) or more Oklahoma-grown grapes, berries, other fruits, h oney or vegetables; 61. “Small farm winery” means a wine-making establishment that does not annually produce for sale more than fifteen thousand (15,000) gallons of wine as reported on the United States Department of the Treasury Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Report of Wine Premises Operations (TTB Form 5120.17); 62. “Sparkling wine” means champagne or any ar tificially carbonated wine; 63. “Special event” means an entertainment, recreation or marketing event that occurs at a sing le location on an irregular basis and at which alcoholic beverages are sold; 64. “Spirits” means any beverage other than wine or beer, which contains more than one-half of one percent (1/2 of 1%) alcohol measured by volume, and obtained by distillatio n, whether or not mixed with other substances in solution and includes those products Req. No. 3570 Page 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 known as whiskey, brandy, rum, gin, vodka, liqueur s, cordials and fortified wines and similar compounds, but shall not include any alcohol liquid completely denatured in accordance with the Acts of Congress and regulations pursuant thereto; 65. “Strong beer” means beer which, prior to October 1, 2018, was distributed pursuant to the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beve rage Control Act, Section 1-101 et seq. of this title; 66. “Successor brewer” means a primary source of supply, a brewer, a cider manufacturer or an importer that acquires rights to a beer or cider brand from a predecessor brewer; 67. “Tax Commission” means the Oklahoma Tax Commission; 68. “Territory” means a geographic region with a specified boundary; 69. “Wine and spirits wholesaler ” or “wine and spirits distributor” means and includes any sole proprietorship or partnership licensed to distribute wine and spirits in the this state. The term “wholesaler”, as used in the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, shall be construed to refer to a wine and spirits wholesaler; 70. “Wine” means and includes any beverage containing more than one-half of one percent (1/2 of 1%) alcohol by volume and not more than twenty-four percent (24%) alcohol by volume at s ixty (60) degrees Fahrenheit obtained by the fermen tation of the natural contents of fruits, vegetables, honey, milk or other products Req. No. 3570 Page 17 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 containing sugar, whether or not other ingredients are added, and includes vermouth and sake, known as Japanese rice wine; 71. “Winemaker” means and includes any person o r establishment who manufactures for human consumption any wine upon which a licen se fee and a tax are imposed by any law of this state; and 72. “Satellite tasting room” means a licensed establishm ent operated off the licensed premises of the holder of a s mall farm winery or winemaker license, which serves wine for on-premises or off-premises consumption; and 73. “Straw testing” means the consumption of a de minimis amount of an alcoholic beverage by sanitary means by the holder of an employee license, twenty-one (21) years of age or older, to determine the quality or desired flavor profile of such alcoholic beverage that has been service d, or is to be served, to a patron. Words in the plural include the singular, and vice versa, and words imparting the masculine gender include the feminine, as well as persons and licensees as defined in this section. SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 37A O.S. 2021, Section 2 -109, is amended to read as follows: Section 2-109. A. A retail spirits license shall a uthorize the holder thereof: 1. To purchase wine or spirits from a wine and spirits wholesaler; Req. No. 3570 Page 18 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. To purchase beer from a beer distribu tor or from the holder of a small brewer self -distribution license; 3. To sell same on the licensed premises i n such containers to consumers for off-premises consumption only and not for resale; provided, spirits, wine and b eer may be sold to charitable organizations that are holders of charitable alcoholic bev erage auction or charitable alcoholic beverage event l icenses; and 4. To host alcoholic beverage tastings consistent with subsections D and E of this section . B. A retail wine license shall author ize the holder thereof: 1. To purchase wine from a wine and spirits wholesaler; 2. To purchase wine from a small farm winemaker who is permitted and has elected to self -distribute as provided in Article XXVIII-A of the Oklahoma Constitution; 3. To sell same on the licensed premises in such containers to consumers for off-premises consumption only and not for resale; provided, wine may be sold to charitable organizations that are holders of charitable alcoholic beverage auction or charitable alcoholic beverage event licenses ; and 4. To host an alcoholic beverage tasting, consistent with subsections D and E of this section. Provided, no holder of a retail wine license may sell wine with alcohol beverage volume in excess of fif teen percent (15%). C. A retail beer license shall authorize the holder thereof: Req. No. 3570 Page 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1. To purchase beer from a beer distributor; 2. To purchase beer from the holder of a small brewer self- distribution license; 3. To sell same on the licensed premises in such containers to consumers for off-premises consumption only and not for resale; provided, beer may be sold to charitable organizations that are holders of charitable alcoholic beverage auction or charitable alcoholic beverage event licenses ; and 4. To host alcoholic beverage tastings consistent with subsections D and E of this section . Provided, no holder of a retail beer license may sell a malt beverage with alcohol bev erage volume in excess of fifteen percent (15%). D. All tastings conducted under t his section shall: 1. Be conducted under the direct supervision of the licensee authorized to host t he tasting; 2. Be poured by any ABLE Commission licensee lawfully permitted to serve alcoholic beverages , provided no wine or spirits wholesaler, beer dis tributor or employee of a wine o r spirits wholesaler or beer distributor shall be allowed to pour samples for tastings; 3. Use alcoholic beverages purchased by the licensee authorized to host the tastings from a licensed wine and spirits wholesaler, beer distributor, self-distributor, small brewer or self- Req. No. 3570 Page 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 distributing winery authorized to sell the same, and the licensee shall pay the applicable taxes on the alcoholic beverages purchased; provided, the licensee may on ly provide samples of alcoholic beverages that its license is authorized to sell; 4. Be restricted to persons twenty -one (21) years of age or older; 5. Be limited to no more than one (1) fluid ounce of spirits, two (2) fluid ounces of wine or three (3) fluid ounces of beer per consumer per day; and 6. Be consumed on the lic ensed premises of the licensee authorized to host the tastings or at a location other than the licensed premises, provided no samples served on the licensed premises shall be permitted to be removed from the licensed premises. E. All licensees authorized to serve samples pursuant to subsection D of this section shall ensure that: 1. All samples are poured only from original sealed packaging; 2. Any alcoholic beverages remaining in unsealed packaging used to provide samples, excluding spirits, are poured out by the end of the day; 3. No more than six (6) bottles of alcoho lic beverages are unsealed at any given time; and 4. No person shall remove any samples from the licensed premises or location where the tasting has occur red. Req. No. 3570 Page 21 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 F. 1. Retail spirits, retail wine, and retail beer license es shall be authorized to host educational alcoholic beverage training, which includes tastings, for employees who are licensed to sell such beverages on the licensed premises in such containers to consumer s for off-premises consumption only. Alcoholic beverages for training purposes may be provided by wine and spirits wholesaler license es and beer distributor licensees. 2. All such tastings shall be consumed on licensed premises of the licensee authorized to host the tastings or at a location other than the licensed premises, and under the direct supervision of the licensee. Samples shall be poured by a licensee who is lawfully permitted to serve alcoholic beverages on the licensed premises in such containers to consumers for off -premises consumption only in this state. Tastings shall be restricted to employees who are twenty-one (21) years of age or older. Participation in tastings for educational purposes may be requ ired by an employer; however, the choice to taste or consume alcoholic beverages shall always be voluntary. No employee may be required to taste or consume alcohol at tastings as a condition of employm ent. 3. An educational tasting of beer may consist of not more than six separate individual beers of not more than two (2) ounces each, served together at one time. No employee may sample more than a total of twelve (12) f luid ounces of beer per day. An educational tasting of wine may consist of not more than six separate individual Req. No. 3570 Page 22 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 wines of not more than one (1) ounce each, served together at one time. No employee may sample more than a total of six (6) fluid ounces of wine per day. An educational tasting of spirits shall consist of not more than three separate individual spirits of not more than one-half (0.5) ounce each, served together at one time. No employee may sample more than a total of one and one -half (1.5) fluid ounces of spirits per day. No employee may sample more than a total of twelve (12) ounces of beer, six ( 6) ounces of wine, or one and one-half (1.5) ounces of spirits per day. Only one type of alcoholic beverage of beer, wine, or spirits shall be allowed at any education training tasting. No combination tasting shall be allowed. Employees who choose to taste an alcoho lic beverage but do not wish to consume the alcoholic beverage shall be allowed to spit the beverage into a cup for disposal. Employees may participate in educational tastings before, during , or after regular business hours unless otherwise prohibited by law. All licensees serving samples of beer shall ensure that all samples are poured only from original sealed packaging and any alcoholic beverages remaining in unsealed packaging used to provide samples, excluding spirits and wine, are poured out by the en d of the day. No more than six bottles of alcoholic beverages may be unsealed at any given time during a tasting. All packaging containing samples of wine and spirits shall be clearly marked as a sample and any unused portions of the sample of wine or spirits shall be resealed and retained by the wine and Req. No. 3570 Page 23 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 spirits wholesaler for use at the next tasti ng authorized in this paragraph. Wine and spirits wholesaler employees may transport any resealed samples of wine and spirits in their vehicles. Wine and spirits samples shall not be considered withdrawn from the inventory of the wine and spir its wholesaler for purposes of the collection of the excise tax on wine and spirits. Tastings offered to licensees by wine and spirits wholesalers and bee r distributors shall not be deemed discrimination or an inducement under Section 3 -123 of this title. SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 37A O.S. 2021, Section 6 -105, as amended by Section 2, Chapter 82, O.S.L. 2022 (37A O.S. Supp. 2023, Section 6-105), is amended to read as follows: Section 6-105. No mixed beverage, public event, special event or on-premises beer and wine licensee sha ll: 1. Purchase or receive any alcoholic beverag e other than from a person holding a wine and spirit spirits wholesaler or beer distributor license issued pur suant to the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act ; provided, a mixed beverage or on-premises beer and wine licensee whose premises are a restaurant may purchase wine produced at wineries in this state directly from a winemaker as provided in Section 2 o f Article XXVIIIA XXVIII-A of the Oklahoma Constitution; Req. No. 3570 Page 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. Transport alcoholic beverages from the pl ace of purchase to the licensed premises unless the licensee also holds a private carrier license issued by the ABLE Commission; 3. Use or allow the use of any ma rk or label on a container of alcoholic beverage which is kept for sale which does not clearly and precisely indicate the nature of the contents or which might deceive or conceal the nature, composition, quantity, age o r quality of such beverage; 4. Keep or knowingly permit any alcoholic beverage to be kept, brought, or consumed on the licensed p remises which is not allowed to be sold or served upon such pr emises; provided, that the alcoholic beverage may be provided by a wine and spirits wholesaler, beer distributor, brewer, small brewer, di stiller, winemaker, small farm winery, rectifier, manufacturer, or nonresident seller licensee and kept, brought, or consumed on the lic ensed premises for educational training tasting purposes pursuant to Section 6-109 of this title; or 5. Allow any person unde r twenty-one (21) years of age to enter into, remain within or loiter about the designated bar area of the licensed premises, except for persons who incidentally pass through the designated area. The prohibition in this subsection against persons under twe nty- one (21) years of age entering or remaining wi thin the designated bar area of the licensed premises shall not apply : Req. No. 3570 Page 25 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 a. if the licensed premises are closed to the publ ic during a time the premises are legally p ermitted to be open for business and the p remises are used for a private party at which alco holic beverages may be served to persons twenty-one (21) years of age or older. Any alcoholic beverages served at a private party on the licensed premises may be purchas ed from the licensee at a negotiated price or purchased privately and served at the pr ivate party on the licensed premises. Any licensee who desires to conduct such a private party shall notify the ABLE Commission, in writing, at least ten (10) cale ndar days prior to the private party. The notification shall include the date, time and pur pose of the private party and any other information the ABLE Commission may deem necessary, b. to a designated bar area which is a concession stand serving beer and wine, in addition to food and non - alcoholic beverages, which concession stand is located at, in, or on the premises of a sports, music or entertainment venue, convention center, fairgrounds or similar facility, or c. to an employee of a beer distribut or or wine and spirits wholesaler who is at least eighteen (18) years Req. No. 3570 Page 26 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 of age and enters for the purpose of merchandising or delivering product to the licensee in the normal course of business. SECTION 4. AMENDATORY 37A O.S. 2021, Section 6 -109, is amended to read as follows: Section 6-109. No mixed beverage, beer and wine, bottle club, caterer, charitable event, public event or special event licensee or any employee, manager, operator or agent the reof shall: 1. Consume or be under the influence of al coholic beverages during the hours he or she is on duty. For the purposes of this section, licensees wi ll be deemed to be on duty from the time the licensee first comes on duty un til the time the licensee goes off duty at the end of the shift incl uding any break periods permitted by management. This paragraph shall not apply fo r purposes of employee education train ing; provided, that: a. all tastings are conducted on a licensed premises and under the direct supervision of the licensee , b. all samples shall be poured by a licensee who is lawfully permitted to serve alcoholic beve rages in this state, c. all tastings shall be restricted to employees who are twenty-one (21) years of ag e or older, d. all participation in tastings for educational purpose s may be required by an employer ; however, the choice to Req. No. 3570 Page 27 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 taste or consume alcoholic beverages shall always be voluntary, and e. no employee may be required to taste or consume alcohol at tastings as a condition of employm ent. An educational tasting of beer may consist of not more than six separate individual beers of not more than two (2 ) ounces each, served together at one time. No employee may sample more than a total of twelve (12) flui d ounces of beer per day. An educational tasting of wine may consis t of not more than six separate individual wines of not more than one (1) ounce eac h, served together at one time. No employee may sample more than a total of six (6) fluid ounces of wine per day. An educational tasting of spirits shall consist of not more than three separate individual spirits of not more than one-half (0.5) ounce eac h, served together at one time. No employee may sample more than a total of one and one -half (1.5) fluid ounces of spirits per day. An education tasting of a mixed beverage shall consist of not more than one individual mixed beverage consisting of not mo re than twelve (12) ounces of beer, six (6) ounces of wine, or one and one -half (1.5) ounces of spirits, combined with an unlimited amount of ingredients that are non - alcoholic in nature, served at one time. No employee may sample more than a total of twelve (12) ounces of beer, six (6) ounces of wine, or one and one-half (1.5) ounces of spirits in a mixed beverage per day. Only one type of alcoholic beverage , beer, wine, Req. No. 3570 Page 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 spirits, or mixed beverage shall be allowed at any educational training tasting. No combination tasting shall be allowed. Employees who choose to taste an alcoho lic beverage but do not wish to consume the alcoholic beverage shall be allowed to spit the beverage into a cup for disposal. Employees may participate in educational tastings before, during, or after regular business hours unless otherwise prohibited by law. All licensees servin g samples of beer shall ensure that all samples are poured only from original sealed packaging and any alcoholic beverages remaining in unsealed packaging used to provide samples, excluding spirits and wine, are poured out by the en d of the day. No more than six bottles of alcoholic beverages may be unsealed at any given time during a tasting. All packaging containing s amples of wine and spirits shall be clearly marked as a sample and any unused portions of the sample of wine or spirits shall be resealed and retained by the wine and spirits wholesaler for use at the next tasting authorized in this paragraph. Wine and spirits wholesaler employees may tr ansport any resealed samples of wine and spirits in their vehicles. Wine and spirits samples shall not be considered withdrawn from the inventory of the wine and spir its wholesaler for purposes of the collection of the excise tax on wine and spirits. Straw testing during operating hours shall be permitted . Tastings offered to licensees by wine and spirits wholesalers and beer distributors shall not be deemed discrimination or an inducement under Section 3 -123 of this title. Req. No. 3570 Page 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 This paragraph shall not appl y to any person who works on the premises as an entertainer only ; 2. Permit or tolerate any conduct or language whi ch is intended to threaten another with physical harm or any fighting or offe nsive physical contact, in or upon the licensed premises or are as just outside the licensed prem ises which are control led by the licensee; 3. Permit empty or discarded alcoholic beverage containers to be in public view outside th e licensed premises. All empty or discarded containers sh all be disposed of in accordanc e with ABLE Commission rules and regulations; 4. Permit any illegal gambling activity, violations of the state narcotic and dangerous drug laws, pros titution activity or any other criminal conduct to occur on the licensed premi ses; 5. Refuse or fail to p romptly open a door to the licens ed premises upon request of an employee of the ABLE Commission or any other peace officer to enter the premises when the licensee or employee knows or should know that such request is made by an employee of the ABLE Commiss ion or a peace officer. This pro vision shall not be construed to deny employees of the ABLE Commission or peace officers access at any time to any li censed premises; 6. Permit a sealed or uns ealed container of alcoholic bevera ge to be removed from the li censed premises. Provided, that restaurants, hotels an d motels may permit t he removal of closed original wine containers the contents of which have been partially Req. No. 3570 Page 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 consumed and bottle clubs may permit the removal by a club me mber of closed original contain ers of alcoholic beverages belong ing to members. The provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to prohibit or restrict: a. hotels or motels who are holders of mixed beverage or on-premises beer and wine licenses from allowing alcoholic beverages to be served away from the bar area anywhere on the li censed premises, b. licensees, who are lawfully operating in a facility or on property owned or operated by any agency, political subdivision or public trust of this stat e, from allowing persons to tra nsport alcoholic beverages from one licensed premises to another within the same building or property, provided that the building or property or a part thereof is defined as a common drinking area for consumption of alcohol by r esolution of the governing body of the agency, political subdivision or public trus t of this state, or c. licensees, who are licensed to operate in a facility or on property owned or operated by any agency, political subdivision or public trust of this state, from allowing other lice nsees to operate on their licensed premises for events that are t emporary in nature. In the event that multipl e licensees are Req. No. 3570 Page 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 operating in a facility or on property owned or operated by any agency, political subdivision or public trust of this state, each licensee shall be responsible for violations occurring in their area designated to be their temporary li censed premises;, or d. licensees, who are lawfully operating in a facility or property intended for multiple licensed p remises within the facility and which also contains a common use area, from allowing persons to transport a lcoholic beverages within the entir e premises, which shall be designated by the ABLE Commission as a common drinking area for the consumption of alcoholic bev erages. Provided, further, the property owner and all licensees licensed within the facility or propert y desiring the entire p remises be designated a com mon drinking area shall notify the ABLE C ommission in writing of their consent prior to such area being designated a common drinking area; or 7. Destroy, damage, alte r, remove or conceal potential evidence, or attempt to do so, or ref use to surrender evidence when lawfully requested to do so by an inspector, agent or any other peace officer or incite anot her person to do any of the above. Req. No. 3570 Page 32 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SECTION 5. It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after i ts passage and approval. 59-2-3570 MR 2/26/2024 4:41:52 PM