(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Convention facility" and "nonprofit corporation" have the same meanings as in section 4303.201 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Hotel" means a hotel described in section 3731.01 of the Revised Code that has at least fifty rooms for registered transient guests and that is required to be licensed pursuant to section 3731.03 of the Revised Code.

(B) An F-3 permit may be issued to an organization whose primary purpose is to support, promote, and educate members of the beer, wine, or mixed beverage industries, to allow the organization to bring beer, wine, or mixed beverages in their original packages or containers into a convention facility or hotel for consumption in the facility or hotel, if all of the following requirements are met:

(1) The superintendent of liquor control is satisfied that the organization is a nonprofit organization and that the organization's membership is in excess of two hundred fifty persons.

(2) The general manager or the equivalent officer of the convention facility or hotel provides a written consent for the use of a portion of the facility or hotel by the organization and a written statement that the facility's or hotel's permit privileges will be suspended in the portion of the facility or hotel in which the F-3 permit is in force.

(3) The organization provides a written description that clearly sets forth the portion of the convention facility or hotel in which the F-3 permit will be used.

(4) The organization provides a written statement as to its primary purpose and the purpose of its event at the convention facility or hotel.

(5) Division (C) of this section does not apply.

(C) No F-3 permit shall be issued to any nonprofit organization that is created by or for a specific manufacturer, supplier, distributor, or retailer of beer, wine, or mixed beverages.

(D) Notwithstanding division(D) of section 4301.22 of the Revised Code, a holder of an F-3 permit may obtain by donation beer, wine, or mixed beverages from any manufacturer or producer of beer, wine, or mixed beverages.

(E) Nothing in this chapter prohibits the holder of an F-3 permit from bringing into the portion of the convention facility or hotel covered by the permit beer, wine, or mixed beverages otherwise not approved for sale in this state.

(F) Notwithstanding division(D) of section 4301.22 of the Revised Code, no holder of an F-3 permit shall make any charge for any beer, wine, or mixed beverage served by the drink, or in its original package or container, in connection with the use of the portion of the convention facility or hotel covered by the permit.

(G) The division of liquor control shall prepare and make available an F-3 permit application form and may require applicants for the permit to provide information, in addition to that required by this section, that is necessary for the administration of this section.

(H) An F-3 permit shall be effective for a period not to exceed five consecutive days. The division of liquor control shall not issue more than three F-3 permits per calendar year to the same nonprofit organization. The fee for an F-3 permit is three hundred dollars.

Effective Date: 07-23-2004 .