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 licensed or unlicensed and would establish additional criteria for the person from whom the successor acquires the rights to manufacture, import, or distribute a product. The bill would also make a conforming change, as well as remove the definition of "beer manufacturer" for the purposes of these provisions.
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act provides that a violation of specified provisions of the act is a misdemeanor.
This bill, by expanding the scope of entities subject to the requirements applicable to successor beer manufacturers, would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Statutes affected:
AB 344: 25000.2 BPC
01/29/25 - Introduced: 25000.2 BPC
03/06/25 - Amended Assembly: 25000.2 BPC