Signed by Governor Henry McMaster

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that prohibits manufactures of beer and other alcoholic beverages from imposing restrictions on wholesaler's conduct.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a manufacturer, brewer, or importer of beer from performing the following actions (Sec. 1):

• Requesting or requiring a wholesaler to gather or submit sales records, retail placement, price, discount, rebate, or other details for beer brands not manufactured, brewed, or imported by the manufacturer, brewer, or importer;

• Mandating wholesaler employee hiring decisions or payment rates, including incentives;

• Requesting or requiring a wholesaler to pay or contribute beer brand marketing or advertising funds for control or expenditure by the manufacturer, brewer, or importer;

• Shiping, invoicing or initiating electronic fund transfer payments for any quantity of beer exceeding any order or forecast as submitted by a wholesaler, or including in a beer sales invoice charges for any items other than beer, freight, cooperage, dunnage, pallets and related deposits;

• Invoicing or initiating electronic fund transfer payments for point of sale advertising specialties or other items exceeding an order placed by a wholesaler;

• Attributing risk of loss, ownership or other financial interest to a wholesaler for beer not in the wholesaler's possession;

• Requesting or requiring a wholesaler to pay for development, installation, or use of any software owned or mandated by the manufacturer, brewer, or importer; or

• Requesting or requiring a wholesaler to pay a fee or penalty, of any description, for noncompliance with any requirement of the manufacturer, brewer, or importer, excluding fees or interest for untimely payment.

Full Bill Text