(a)    There is a national beer, wine, and liquor exhibition permit.

(b)    The Comptroller may issue the permit to a bona fide alcohol trade association.

(c)    (1)    The permit authorizes the holder to conduct an alcohol exhibition and competition at which the permit holder may exhibit, judge, and taste beer, wine, and liquor acquired in accordance with this section at the place designated in the permit application.

(2)    The permit authorizes the holder to receive for use, exhibition, and tastings at an exhibition:

(i)    tax–free family produced beer and wine;

(ii)    tax–paid commercially produced beer, wine, and liquor from licensed nonresident dealers or manufacturers through holders of wholesaler’s licenses; and

(iii)    commercially produced beer, wine, and liquor from manufacturers or suppliers licensed by another state and subject to the tax imposed under § 5–102 of the Tax – General Article.

(3)    The permit holder may not sell beer, wine, and liquor at the exhibition and competition.

(4)    Notwithstanding § 6–319 of this article, the permit holder may allow a person to possess and consume beer, wine, and liquor on the premises governed by the permit as provided in this section.

(d)    An exhibition may not last more than 5 days.

(e)    The permit may be granted for:

(1)    an unlicensed premises; or

(2)    a licensed premises.

(f)    Persons authorized to judge or participate at an alcohol exhibition include a:

(1)    manufacturer;

(2)    nonresident dealer;

(3)    supplier;

(4)    wholesaler; and

(5)    representative of any of the persons listed in items (1) through (4) of this subsection.

(g)    A supplier licensed by another state is not required to have a nonresident dealer’s permit to ship beer, wine, and liquor to the permit holder.

(h)    (1)    Within 30 days after the exhibition ends, the permit holder shall:

(i)    file a report, on the forms that the Comptroller provides, of the number of gallons of commercially produced beer, wine, and liquor that the permit holder received from suppliers that are not licensed; and

(ii)    pay the tax required under § 5–102 of the Tax – General Article.

(2)    The Comptroller may require the permit holder to prepay an amount sufficient to cover the anticipated tax rather than post a bond.

(i)    The permit fee is $50.