Vermont § 255 - Retail alcoholic beverage tasting permits

§ 255. Retail alcoholic beverage tasting permits

• (a) The Division of Liquor Control may grant a licensee a permit to conduct an alcoholic
  beverage tasting event as provided in subsection (b) of this section if: (1) the licensee has submitted a written application in a form required by the Commissioner
  and paid the fee provided in section 204 of this title at least five days prior to the date of the alcoholic beverage tasting event; and (2) the Commissioner determines that the licensee is in good standing. (b) The Division may grant the following alcoholic beverage tasting permits to the following
  types of licensees: (1) A second-class licensee. (A) The permit authorizes the employees of the second-class licensee or of a designated
  manufacturer or rectifier to dispense to each customer of legal age on the licensee’s
  premises malt beverages, vinous beverages, or ready-to-drink spirits beverages by
  the glass not to exceed two ounces of each beverage with a total of eight ounces of
  malt beverages, vinous beverages, or ready-to-drink spirits beverages. (B) Malt beverages, vinous beverages, or ready-to-drink spirits beverages dispensed at
  the tasting event shall be from the inventory of the licensee or purchased from a
  wholesale dealer. (C) A second-class licensee may be granted up to 48 tasting permits per year. In addition,
  a second-class licensee may be granted up to five permits per week to conduct a tasting
  as part of an educational food preparation class or course conducted by the licensee
  on the licensee’s premises. (2) A licensed manufacturer or rectifier of malt beverages, vinous beverages, or ready-to-drink
  spirits beverages. (A) The permit authorizes the licensed manufacturer or rectifier to dispense to each customer
  of legal age for consumption on the premises of a second-class licensee beverages
  produced by the manufacturer or rectifier by the glass not to exceed two ounces of
  each beverage with a total of eight ounces of malt beverages, vinous beverages, or
  ready-to-drink spirits beverages. (B) A manufacturer or rectifier may conduct no more than 48 tastings per year. (3) A licensed wholesale dealer. The permit authorizes a licensed wholesale dealer to
  dispense malt beverages, vinous beverages, or ready-to-drink spirits beverages for
  promotional purposes at the wholesale dealer’s premises without charge to invited
  employees of first-, second-, and third-class licensees, provided the invited employees
  are of legal age. (c) A vinous beverage, ready-to-drink spirits beverage, or malt beverage tasting event
  held pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, not including an alcoholic beverage
  tasting conducted on the premises of the manufacturer or rectifier, shall comply with
  the following: (1) continue for not more than six hours, with not more than six beverages to be offered
  at a single event, and not more than two ounces of any single beverage and not more
  than a total of eight ounces of malt beverages, vinous beverages, or ready-to-drink
  spirits beverages to be dispensed to a customer; (2) serve no more than eight individuals at one time; and (3) be conducted totally within a designated area that extends no further than 10 feet
  from the point of service and that is marked by a clearly visible sign that states
  that no one under 21 years of age may participate in the tasting. (d) The holder of a permit issued under this section shall keep an accurate accounting
  of the beverages consumed at a tasting event and shall be responsible for complying
  with all applicable laws under this title. (e) The holder of a permit issued under this section that provides alcoholic beverages
  to a minor or permits an individual under 18 years of age to serve alcoholic beverages
  at a tasting event under this section shall be fined not less than $500.00 nor more
  than $2,000.00 or imprisoned not more than two years, or both. (Added 2017, No. 83, § 52; amended 2018, No. 1 (Sp. Sess.), § 52; 2021, No. 177 (Adj. Sess.), § 17, eff. July 1, 2022.)