§ 18B-1114.8.  Home maker special event permit.

(a) Definitions. - For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) Homemade product. - A malt beverage or wine produced pursuant to G.S. 18B-306.

(2) Home maker club. - An organization devoted to malt beverages and wine produced pursuant to G.S. 18B-306 that:

a. Has a defined membership with a stated common purpose.

b. Has a written policy for granting membership that includes a written application submitted by each member, both of which may be produced or maintained electronically.

c. Maintains a list of all active members and their addresses that is present at all organized affairs of the club and is open to inspection by alcohol law-enforcement agents upon request.

d. Holds a general liability insurance policy in the amount of at least one million dollars ($1,000,000). This requirement may be satisfied by either an annual policy or a policy for a specific special event.

(b) [Permit. -] A home maker club may obtain a home maker special event permit allowing the permittee to give free tastings of homemade malt beverages and wines on the premises of retail ABC permittees and at shopping malls, or at trade shows, conventions, street festivals, holiday festivals, agricultural festivals, balloon races, farmers markets, local fundraisers, and other similar events approved by the Commission. The permit shall be issued in the name of the home maker club.

(c) Limitations on Consumer Tastings. - Any consumer tasting conducted pursuant to this section is subject to the following limitations:

(1) Members of the permitted home maker club shall conduct the consumer tasting and the permit holder shall be solely responsible for any violations of this Chapter occurring in connection with the consumer tasting.

(2) At an event occurring on the premises of a retail ABC permittee, no homemade products may be removed from or consumed outside of the retail permittee's premises. The home maker club shall obtain written authorization to conduct the consumer tasting at least 24 hours prior to conducting the consumer tasting.

(3) At an event occurring at a trade show, convention, street festival, holiday festival, agricultural festival, balloon race, farmers market, local fundraiser, or other similar event approved by the Commission, no homemade products may be removed from or consumed outside of a clearly marked and defined area where consumption of homemade products is authorized.

(4) The permit holder shall provide to the Commission in advance of any consumer tasting a list of homemade products offered at the consumer tastings at least 24 hours before the start of the consumer tasting event. For a consumer tasting occurring on the premises of a retail ABC permittee, the permit holder shall also provide this list to the permittee.

(5) Homemade products shall be labeled with a label stating the maker's name and telephone number, the alcohol content by volume, and the statement "Homemade product for consumer tasting."

(6) Members of the permitted home maker club shall not offer tasting samples to, or allow consumption of tasting samples by, any consumer who is visibly intoxicated.

(7) Members of the permitted home maker club shall not offer tasting samples to, or allow consumption of tasting samples by, any consumer under 21 years of age. The person pouring the homemade products shall be responsible for verifying the age of the consumer being served by checking the identification of the consumer.

(8) Homemade products may be stored on permitted premises for no more than 48 hours prior to the consumer tasting. Homemade products shall be sealed while being stored on permitted premises and segregated from other commercial alcoholic beverages located on the premises. No homemade product shall remain on the premises for more than 24 hours after the conclusion of the consumer tasting.

(9) Each consumer shall be limited to six tasting samples containing 1 ounce of any homemade product made available for sampling at the consumer tasting, and the total amount of the tasting samples offered to and consumed by each consumer shall not exceed 6 ounces in any calendar day.

(10) The permit holder or members of the permitted home maker club shall not charge a consumer for any tasting sample or for entry to the consumer tasting.

(11) The permit holder shall maintain for a period of at least one year a record of each consumer tasting conducted. The record shall include the date of the consumer tasting, the time of the consumer tasting, an identification of the venue at which the consumer tasting was held, an identification of the homemade products that were provided for tasting at the consumer tasting, and the name of any person who poured homemade products at the consumer tasting. The permit holder shall allow the ABC Commission to inspect those records at any time.

(12) Each consumer participating in a consumer tasting shall be required to provide his or her name, telephone number, email address, and the date of the consumer tasting.  (2024-41, s. 25(c).)