Section 6-131 of the Official Code of Cobb County, Georgia, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 6-131. – License prohibited for package sales in connection with sales of alcoholic beverages by the drink; wine and/or beer sampling.

• (a) Except in a grocery store, farm winery, distillery, or brewery, no retail license for the sale of alcoholic beverages by the package shall be allowed where such sale would take place in, or in connection with, any restaurant, cafe or eating place, or in the same room where a bar is maintained for the dispensing and sales of alcoholic beverages.
   
• (b) Businesses with an adjacent or adjoining establishment for the sale of beer and wine by the package are required to obtain the respective beer and/or wine package license. An adjoining door may exist between establishments and may be used for customers during business hours, but must be locked when the sale of alcohol is not allowed.
   
• (c) Businesses other than convenience stores, and drug stores, liquor package stores, and grocery stores as defined in this chapter, which are licensed for wine and/or beer package sales, may allow sampling of wine and/or craft beers as defined in this chapter, provided there is no charge for admittance or for the wine or craft beer sample and the serving size of each sample does not exceed two ounces.
   
• (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, in all counties and municipalities in which the sale of alcoholic beverages is lawful, retail package liquor stores shall be authorized to conduct up to 52 tasting events per calendar year, subject to the following terms and conditions:
   
  • (1) A tasting event shall only take place on the licensed premises and only at times at which such alcoholic beverages may be lawfully sold on such licensed premises;
     
  • (2) Only one tasting event per day may be held on the licensed premises and such tasting event shall not exceed four hours;
     
  • (3) Only one type of alcoholic beverage may be served at a tasting event, either malt beverages, wine, or distilled spirits; provided, however, that more than one brand of such type of alcoholic beverage may be offered so long as not more than four packages are open at any one time;
     
  • (4) If the tasting event is for malt beverages, a consumer shall not be served more than eight ounces of malt beverages during such tasting event. If the tasting event is for wine, a consumer shall not be served more than five ounces of wine during such tasting event. If the tasting event is for distilled spirits, a consumer shall not be served more than one and one-half ounces of distilled spirits during such tasting event;
     
  • (5) Only alcoholic beverages that the licensee is licensed to sell on the licensed premises may be offered as part of a tasting event, and such alcoholic beverages shall be part of the licensee's inventory;
     
  • (6) Only food that is lawful to sell on the licensed premises, under this title or under any rules or regulations of the commissioner, may be served as part of a tasting event. Such food shall be offered at no cost to the consumer;
     
  • (7) Any operator or employee of the licensee may refuse to provide any brand, type, or quantity of alcoholic beverage to any consumer;
     
  • (8) The licensee shall notify the governing authority of the county or municipality in which the licensed premises is located prior to holding a tasting event;
     
  • (9) Any broken package containing alcoholic beverages on the licensed premises that is not licensed for retail sales for consumption on the premises shall be kept locked in a secure room or cabinet by the operator of the licensed premises except when in use during a tasting event;
     
  • (10)Representatives and salespersons of manufacturers or wholesalers may attend a tasting event; provided, however, that such representatives and salespersons shall not host the tasting event, pour any alcoholic beverage, or provide anything of value to any consumer or to the licensee or an employee of a licensee; and
     
  • (11)Any other terms, conditions, and limitations as may be required or imposed by the governing authority of the county or municipality in which the licensed premises is located.

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