Montana § 16-3-509 - Distributors' Service Obligations For Beer -- Applicability

§ 16-3-509. Distributors' Service Obligations For Beer -- Applicability

Distributors' service obligations for beer -- applicability. (1) A distributor appointed to distribute a brand of beer within a territory specified by agreement pursuant to 16-3-505 shall call on and offer that brand to at least 75% of the retailers within that territory at least every 3 weeks. However, if the brand of beer for which the distributor is appointed is a product of a brewer or beer importer whose products are not generally available, the distributor shall, at least every 3 weeks, call on and offer that brand to as many retailers within that territory as is reasonably possible given the amount of that brand that is available to the distributor. (2) If a retailer's account with a distributor is current as required under 16-3-243 , the distributor may not refuse to sell the retailer any generally available brand of beer for which the distributor has been appointed for the territory in which the retailer is located. The distributor shall offer to deliver the beer to the retailer at least every 3 weeks. (3) For the purposes of this section, a brewer or beer importer's products are not generally available if: (a) all of the brands of a brewer or beer importer shipped to a distributor during the most recent calendar quarter total less than 600 barrels; (b) all of the brands of a brewer or beer importer shipped into the state total less than 1,200 barrels in each of the 2 consecutive preceding calendar quarters; and (c) all of the brands produced by the brewer at all of its facilities total less than 150,000 barrels per year. (4) This section applies to all beer distribution agreements entered into, assigned, or amended after July 1, 1986. It does not apply to a distribution agreement for a named brand entered into before July 1, 1986, but does not prohibit a brewer who is a party to an agreement from requiring the appointed distributor to fulfill similar service obligations in the territory.