Existing law, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, which is administered by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, regulates the application, issuance, and suspension of alcoholic beverage licenses. Existing law imposes requirements on a successor beer manufacturer, defined as a beer manufacturer that acquires the rights to manufacture, import, or distribute a product, who cancels any of the existing beer wholesaler’s rights to distribute the product, as provided, and defines terms for this purpose.

This bill would modify the definition of “successor beer manufacturer” to specify that a successor beer manufacturer may be a beer manufacturer or any person, as defined, whether licensed or unlicensed, who acquires the rights to manufacture, import, or distribute a product.

The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act provides that a violation of specified provisions of the act is a misdemeanor.