The bill amends Michigan's laws governing the control of alcoholic beverage traffic, particularly by establishing the Michigan Craft Beverage Council within the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. This council will include members from various sectors of the beverage industry, such as retail food establishments, restaurants, wineries, breweries, and distillers. Its responsibilities will include administering grants for research and projects that promote Michigan's agricultural products used in alcoholic beverage production, as well as accepting funding from various sources to support its initiatives. Additionally, the bill introduces provisions for the sale of nonalcoholic beverages, including nonalcoholic beer, at tasting rooms, while allowing wholesalers to sell nonalcoholic products to brewers for tasting room consumption.

The bill also makes several amendments related to the advertising and sale of alcoholic beverages, particularly concerning educational institutions and public venues. It permits the inclusion of college or university names or logos on alcoholic liquor advertising, provided these institutions hold a retail license, and allows sports or entertainment venues associated with public universities to display larger illuminated advertising signs. Furthermore, it outlines penalties for retailers with multiple dishonored payments to wholesalers and clarifies conditions for tastings and samplings of alcoholic beverages, including exceptions to the prohibition against giving away alcoholic liquor. Importantly, the bill states that breathalyzer or blood alcohol test results cannot be used as evidence for violations related to selling alcohol to intoxicated individuals, emphasizing the need for direct observation or corroborating evidence.

Statutes affected:
Substitute (S-2): 436.1303
Substitute (S-4): 436.1303
Senate Introduced Bill: 436.1303
As Passed by the Senate: 436.1303
As Passed by the House: 436.1303
Public Act: 436.1303
Senate Enrolled Bill: 436.1303