This website will be unavailable from Friday, April 26, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, April 29, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. due to data center maintenance.

 
 
  S.B. No. 1322
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the purchase and sale of vintage distilled spirits by
  the holder of a package store permit or local distributor's permit.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1.04, Alcoholic Beverage Code, is
  amended by adding Subdivisions (30) and (31) to read as follows:
               (30)  "Vintage distilled spirits" means distilled
  spirits that:
                     (A)  are in the original manufacturer's sealed
  container, including a bottle or case of bottles;
                     (B)  are not owned by the holder of a distiller's
  and rectifier's permit or the holder of a nonresident seller's
  permit;
                     (C)  are not otherwise available for purchase from
  the holder of a wholesaler's permit;
                     (D)  have not been offered for sale by the holder
  of a wholesaler's permit within the preceding five years; and
                     (E)  are possessed by a person in this state.
               (31)  "Vintage distilled spirits seller" means a person
  who:
                     (A)  is at least 21 years of age;
                     (B)  does not hold a license or permit under this
  code; and
                     (C)  is:
                           (i)  an administrator, executor, receiver,
  or other fiduciary who receives and sells vintage distilled spirits
  in execution of the person's fiduciary capacity;
                           (ii)  a creditor who receives or takes
  possession of vintage distilled spirits as security for, or in
  payment of, debt, in whole or in part;
                           (iii)  a public officer or court official
  who levies on vintage distilled spirits under order or process of
  any court or magistrate to sell the vintage distilled spirits in
  satisfaction of the order or process; or
                           (iv)  any other person who does not hold or
  have an interest in a permit or a license or in the business of a
  permit or license holder under this code and is not engaged in the
  business of selling alcoholic beverages.
         SECTION 2.  Section 22.01, Alcoholic Beverage Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 22.01.  AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES. The holder of a package
  store permit may:
               (1)  purchase liquor in this state from the holder of a
  winery, wholesaler's, or class B wholesaler's permit;
               (2)  purchase malt beverages in this state from the
  holder of a general or branch distributor's license;
               (3)  sell liquor and malt beverages in unbroken
  original containers on or from the holder's licensed premises at
  retail to consumers for off-premises consumption only and not for
  the purpose of resale, except that if the permittee is a hotel, the
  permittee may deliver unbroken packages of liquor and malt
  beverages to bona fide guests of the hotel in their rooms for
  consumption in their rooms;
               (4)  sell vinous liquors in original containers of not
  less than six ounces; [and]
               (5)  sell liquor to holders of passenger transportation
  permits as provided in Section 48.03; and
               (6)  purchase and sell vintage distilled spirits as
  provided in Section 22.19.
         SECTION 3.  Chapter 22, Alcoholic Beverage Code, is amended
  by adding Section 22.19 to read as follows:
         Sec. 22.19.  PURCHASE AND SALE OF VINTAGE DISTILLED SPIRITS.
  (a) The holder of a package store permit may purchase vintage
  distilled spirits from a vintage distilled spirits seller.
         (b)  A vintage distilled spirits seller may sell to the
  holder of a package store permit, for each permitted premises, not
  more than 24 containers of vintage distilled spirits during any
  12-month period.
         (c)  The holder of a package store permit shall maintain a
  record of each purchase of vintage distilled spirits until the
  second anniversary of the date the vintage distilled spirits are
  purchased and provide the record to the commission on request. The
  record must include the following information:
               (1)  the permit holder's name, address, permit number,
  and phone number;
               (2)  the vintage distilled spirits seller's name,
  address, and phone number;
               (3)  the brand name and quantity of each vintage
  distilled spirits container purchased;
               (4)  the date of the purchase; and
               (5)  the number of containers of vintage distilled
  spirits the permit holder has previously purchased from the vintage
  distilled spirits seller and the dates of those purchases.
         (d)  A package store permit holder may sell vintage distilled
  spirits to consumers for off-premises consumption only and to
  holders of passenger transportation permits as provided in Section
  48.03.
         (e)  Any holder of a package store permit who is injured in
  the permittee's business or property by a vintage distilled spirits
  seller by the sale of forged, adulterated, or counterfeit vintage
  distilled spirits to the permittee may institute suit in any
  district court in the county in which the violation is alleged to
  have occurred to require enforcement by injunctive procedures and
  to recover triple damages plus costs of suit including reasonable
  attorney's fees.
         SECTION 4.  Section 23.01(a), Alcoholic Beverage Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The holder of a local distributor's permit may:
               (1)  purchase alcoholic beverages, including malt
  beverages, from wholesalers and distributors authorized to sell
  them for resale, but may purchase only those brands available for
  general distribution to all local distributor's permittees;
               (2)  sell and distribute the alcoholic beverages,
  including malt beverages, to mixed beverage and private club
  registration permittees;
               (3)  sell and distribute distilled spirits to the
  holder of a nonprofit entity temporary event permit; [and]
               (4)  rent or sell to mixed beverage and private club
  registration permittees any equipment, fixtures, or supplies used
  in the selling or dispensing of distilled spirits; and
               (5)  purchase and sell vintage distilled spirits as
  provided by Section 23.07.
         SECTION 5.  Chapter 23, Alcoholic Beverage Code, is amended
  by adding Section 23.07 to read as follows:
         Sec. 23.07.  PURCHASE AND SALE OF VINTAGE DISTILLED SPIRITS.
  (a) The holder of a local distributor's permit may purchase vintage
  distilled spirits from a vintage distilled spirits seller.
         (b)  A vintage distilled spirits seller may sell to the
  holder of a local distributor's permit, for each permitted
  premises, not more than 24 containers of vintage distilled spirits
  during any 12-month period.
         (c)  The holder of a local distributor's permit shall
  maintain a record of each purchase of vintage distilled spirits
  until the second anniversary of the date the vintage distilled
  spirits are purchased and provide the record to the commission on
  request. The record must include the following information:
               (1)  the permit holder's name, address, permit number,
  and phone number;
               (2)  the vintage distilled spirits seller's name,
  address, and phone number;
               (3)  the brand name and quantity of each vintage
  distilled spirits container purchased;
               (4)  the date of the purchase; and
               (5)  the number of containers of vintage distilled
  spirits the permit holder has previously purchased from the vintage
  distilled spirits seller and the dates of those purchases.
         (d)  A local distributor's permit holder may sell to the
  holder of a mixed beverage permit not more than six containers of
  vintage distilled spirits during any 12-month period.
         (e)  Any holder of a local distributor's permit who is
  injured in the permittee's business or property by a vintage
  distilled spirits seller by the sale of forged, adulterated, or
  counterfeit vintage distilled spirits to the permittee may
  institute suit in any district court in the county in which the
  violation is alleged to have occurred to require enforcement by
  injunctive procedures and to recover triple damages plus costs of
  suit including reasonable attorney's fees.
         SECTION 6.  Section 28.07(a), Alcoholic Beverage Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  All distilled spirits and vintage distilled spirits
  sold by a holder of a mixed beverage permit must be purchased from a
  holder of a local distributor's permit in the county in which the
  premises of a mixed beverage permittee is located.
         SECTION 7.  Section 103.10, Alcoholic Beverage Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 103.10.  EXERCISE OF DISCRETION IN CASE OF MISTAKE. (a)
  The preceding sections of this subchapter shall not be construed as
  preventing the commission from exercising its discretion if illicit
  alcoholic beverages are seized as the result of an accidental
  shipment or other reasonable mistake. Under those circumstances,
  the commission may issue orders and make disposition of the
  alcoholic beverages as it finds just and reasonable.
         (b)  It is a defense to prosecution or to the imposition of a
  civil or administrative penalty for a violation under this chapter
  that:
               (1)  the holder of a package store permit or the holder
  of a local distributor's permit:
                     (A)  purchased an illicit beverage from a vintage
  distilled spirits seller under Section 22.19 or 23.07 in good
  faith;
                     (B)  reasonably believed the illicit beverage was
  vintage distilled spirits at all times the beverage was in the
  permit holder's possession; and
                     (C)  sold the illicit beverage to an authorized
  purchaser in good faith; and
               (2)  an authorized purchaser, to whom the holder of a
  package store permit or local distributor's permit sold an illicit
  beverage, reasonably believed the beverage was vintage distilled
  spirits and not an illicit beverage.
         SECTION 8.  Section 201.08(a), Alcoholic Beverage Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  No tax may be collected on liquor:
               (1)  shipped out of state for consumption outside the
  state; [or]
               (2)  sold aboard a ship for ship's supplies; or
               (3)  sold as vintage distilled spirits.
         SECTION 9.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1322 passed the Senate on
  April 24, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 28, Nays 1,
  one present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1322 passed the House on
  May 6, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 134, Nays 3,
  one present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor