§793. Additional powers of the commissioner

A.(1) The commissioner may provide by regulation for the issuance of three-day retail permits to sell, offer for sale, or serve alcoholic beverages at fairs, festivals, civic and fraternal and religious events, Mardi Gras events, and nonprofit functions if the applicant, or any agent, member, officer, or representative thereof, has not had a license or permit to sell or deal in alcoholic beverages, issued by the United States, any state, or by a political subdivision of a state authorized to issue permits or licenses, revoked within two years prior to the application date. The permits shall be for a duration of three consecutive days only and no more than twelve such permits may be issued to any one person within a single calendar year. Fees for the permits shall be as provided by regulation.

(a) There shall be three types of temporary alcoholic beverage permits: Type A, Type B, and Type C.

(b) Type A permits shall be issued only to nonprofit organizations with tax exempt status under the United States Internal Revenue Code, Sections 501(c)(3), 501(c)(6), and 501(c)(8), where no transactions exist, whether directly or indirectly, between the licensed tax exempt organizations and any disqualified person as defined by the United States Internal Revenue Code Section 4958(f) or any similar subsequent provision. To qualify for this permit, applicants shall submit all documentation as required in the regulations promulgated in accordance with the provisions of this Section or upon the request of the commissioner.

(c) Type B permits shall be issued only to nonprofit organizations, which are able to provide written proof of their nonprofit status, but are unable to show written proof of their tax exempt status under the United States Internal Revenue Code, Sections 501(c)(3), 501(c)(6), or 501(c)(8) and no transactions, exist, whether directly or indirectly, between the licensed tax exempt organization and any disqualified person as defined by the United States Internal Revenue Code, Section 4958(f) or any similar provision. To qualify for this permit, applicants shall submit all documentation as required in the regulations promulgated in accordance with the provisions of this Section or upon the request of the commissioner.

(d) Type C permits shall be issued to persons holding events where alcoholic beverages are sold or supplied as part of a general admission or other type fee, but who do not meet the requirements for Type A or Type B temporary permits. To qualify for this permit, applicants shall submit all documentation as required in the regulations or upon the request of the commissioner. Such regulations shall be promulgated in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act are necessary to implement the provisions of this Subparagraph.

(e) The commissioner shall not issue a three-day temporary retail permit under this Paragraph to any alcoholic beverage manufacturer, wholesale dealer, homebrewer, or to any association with a membership that is primarily comprised of alcoholic beverage manufacturers, wholesale dealers, and/or homebrewers.

(2) The commissioner may also provide by regulation for special designations on the regular Class A permits of persons who wish to service special events as caterers and serve alcoholic beverages at locations other than their licensed premises.

(3) The commissioner shall also provide by rule and regulation for the definition and issuance of a Class A-Caterers Permit for any person who does not otherwise qualify for a retail dealers permit pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 26:71.1 or R.S. 26:271.2. Any person holding a Class A-Caterers Permit shall not be authorized to sell alcoholic beverages to any wholesale or retail dealer licensed in accordance with this Title. The fees for a Class A-Caterers permit shall not exceed the fees for a Class A-Restaurant Permit set forth in R.S. 26:71(A).

(4) The commissioner shall adopt rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to effectuate the purpose of this Section. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 26:90(B), (C), (D), (E), (F), and (G) and R.S. 26:286(B), (C), (D), (E), (F), and (G) to the contrary, the commissioner may establish rules and regulations adopted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act authorizing the types of entertainment and employment allowed on a licensed premises.

(5)(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the commissioner shall issue a three-day homebrew permit to any retail dealer qualified for on premise consumption who applies for such permit at no fee authorizing the retail dealer to allow a person to bring homebrew alcoholic beverages on his licensed premises for the purpose of possessing, consuming, and serving such homebrew on his licensed premises in connection with homebrew club meetings, organized affairs, exhibitions, or competitions such as homebrewer's contests, tastings, or judging where no general admission or other type of fee or charge is assessed in connection with the homebrew permit and in accordance with all of the following criteria:

(i) Homebrew shall not be sold or offered for sale and the person who makes the homebrew or any association of persons who make the homebrew shall not receive any compensation or any other thing of value, whether directly or indirectly, other than trophies, plaques, certificates, ribbons, medals, or similar awards of nominal value, from any club meetings, organized affairs, exhibitions, competitions or other events where the homebrew is sampled in accordance with the sampling provisions promulgated under the authority of R.S. 26:75(C) and 275(B).

(ii) Homebrew shall be served only to those individuals attending the homebrew event and shall not be served to the patrons of the retail establishment or general public.

(iii) All homebrew alcoholic beverages shall be removed from the licensed premises within a reasonable time upon conclusion of the homebrew event.

(iv) The retail dealer shall not be required to obtain a special events permit from the Louisiana Department of Health and shall be exempt from any additional compliance with the state's Sanitary Code but only with regard to the duration and location of the homebrew event.

(b) For purposes of this Paragraph, "homebrew" shall mean the brewing of beer, mead, and other alcoholic beverages through fermentation in a residence or other authorized facility by a person of the lawful age to purchase alcoholic beverages on a small scale, not to exceed one hundred gallons per calendar year for a household with one resident of the lawful age to purchase alcoholic beverages or two hundred gallons for a household with two or more residents of the lawful age to purchase alcoholic beverages as a hobby for personal consumption by that person or his or her family, neighbors, guests, and friends, for use at competitions homebrew club meetings, organized affairs, exhibitions, or competitions on the premises of a licensed Class A retail dealer holding a homebrew permit in accordance with this Paragraph, or for any of the other noncommercial reasons as provided for in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection regarding special event licenses where homebrew is served as an incidental part of the event and in accordance with the sampling provisions promulgated under the authority of R.S. 26:75(C) and 275(B). "Homebrew" shall not include any licensed alcoholic beverages manufactured, distributed, or otherwise served for commercial purposes.

B. The provisions of R.S. 26:281(C), (D), (F), and (G) shall not apply to permits issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section.

NOTE: Subsection (C)(1) eff. until Jan. 1, 2016. See Acts 2015, No. 460, §2.

C.(1) In order to ensure compliance with "Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco Law", the commissioner shall annually conduct random, unannounced inspections at locations where tobacco products are sold or distributed. Persons under the age of eighteen may be enlisted by employees of the office of alcohol and tobacco control to test compliance, but such persons may be used only if the testing is conducted under the direct supervision of such employees and written parental consent has been provided. Any person under the age of eighteen shall either carry the person's own identification showing the person's correct date of birth or shall carry no identification. A person under the age of eighteen who carries identification shall, on request, present it to any seller of tobacco products. In addition, any person under the age of eighteen enlisted under this Subsection shall truthfully answer any questions about the person's age. Any other use of persons under the age of eighteen to test compliance with the provisions of this Section or any other prohibition of like or similar import shall be unlawful and the person or persons responsible for such use shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in R.S. 14:91.8(H).

C.(1) In order to ensure compliance with laws prohibiting the sale or service of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, alternative nicotine, or vapor products to underage persons, the commissioner shall annually conduct random, unannounced inspections at locations where alcoholic beverages, tobacco, or alternative nicotine, or vapor products are sold, served, or distributed. Persons under the age of eighteen or twenty-one may be enlisted by employees of the office of alcohol and tobacco control to test compliance, but such persons may be used only if the testing is conducted under the direct supervision of such employees and written parental consent has been provided if the person is under the age of eighteen. Any person under the age of eighteen or twenty-one shall either carry the person's own identification showing the person's correct date of birth or shall carry no identification. A person under the age of eighteen or twenty-one who carries identification shall, on request, present it to any seller or server of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, or alternative nicotine or vapor products. In addition, any person under the age of eighteen or twenty-one enlisted under this Subsection shall truthfully answer any questions about the person's age. Except where expressly authorized in writing by the commissioner in furtherance of the objectives of this Section, any other use of persons under the age of eighteen or twenty-one to test compliance with the provisions of this Section or any other prohibition of like or similar import shall be unlawful and the person or persons responsible for such use shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in this Title or R.S. 14:91.6, 91.8(H), 92, or 93.11.

(2) The commissioner shall prepare and submit to the governor a report outlining compliance with the "Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco Law", which the governor shall use to prepare and file annually with the secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services the report provided for by 42 U.S.C. 300x-26.

D.(1) The commissioner shall provide by rule for the registration, including submission and review of the container label, of all alcoholic beverages prior to being sold in this state.

(2) The commissioner may require the use of an electronic submission system by any person submitting an alcoholic beverage for registration and review.

(3) The submission of a Certificate of Label Approval prepared in compliance with the requirements of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau shall constitute satisfactory compliance for the registration of products and labels pursuant to this Subsection, and the registration shall become effective upon submission of a completed application.

Acts 1991, No. 447, §1, eff. July 15, 1991; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 64, §2; Acts 1997, No. 1010, §2; Acts 1997, No. 1370, §§1, 4, eff. Oct. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 987, §1; Acts 2010, No. 953, §1, eff. July 2, 2010; Acts 2014, No. 835, §1, eff. June 23, 2014; Acts 2015, No. 393, §1; Acts 2015, No. 460, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2016.