By: Gallegos S.B. No. 2558 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the promotion and marketing of alcoholic beverages. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 108, Alcoholic Beverage Code, is amended by adding Subchapter D to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER D. PROMOTIONAL EVENTS Sec. 108.101. PRODUCT INSTRUCTION EVENTS. (a) In this section, "product instruction event" means a prescheduled public or private event for the purpose of promoting one or more malt beverages the sale of which is authorized in this state during which the license or permit holder provides instruction to consumers and retailers' employees of legal drinking age on the history, quality, characteristics, presentation, or serving of the malt beverages by: (1) allowing the consumers and employees to taste the malt beverages; and (2) informing the consumers and employees about the types of food with which the malt beverages could be paired. (b) Notwithstanding Section 102.07, 102.14, 102.15, or 108.06, or any other provision of this code, a holder of a manufacturer's license, nonresident manufacturer's license, brewer's permit, nonresident brewer's permit, nonresident seller's permit, general distributor's license, local distributor's license, wholesaler's permit, Class B wholesaler's permit, agent's beer license, agent's permit, or manufacturer's agent's permit, or the license or permit holder's agent, representative, or employee, may, in order to promote the license or permit holder's malt beverages, conduct product instruction events: (1) at the premises of a retailer holding a license or permit to sell alcoholic beverages for on-premises or off-premises consumption; and (2) on a brand-identified promotional vehicle that is owned, rented, or leased by the license or permit holder conducting the event while the vehicle is located on the premises of a retailer described by Subdivision (1). (c) A product instruction event must be conducted during normal business hours and may not exceed four hours in length. (d) The license or permit holder conducting a product instruction event may open, touch, pour, and serve only malt beverages that the license or permit holder manufactures or is authorized to distribute. (e) The license or permit holder conducting the product instruction event must purchase all malt beverages used in the event from the retailer. The retailer may not charge the license or permit holder more than the price the retailer charges a consumer for the beverages. (f) A product instruction event may be prearranged with and preannounced to a retailer. A product instruction event may not be preannounced to a consumer. (g) A retailer may host not more than two product instruction events each calendar year. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.