AB 1246: Alcoholic beverages: distilled spirits.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

(1)Existing law, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, requires the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to administer the act and perform various duties relating to the issuance of alcoholic beverage licenses. Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of winegrowers and craft distillers and establishes the privileges that a winegrower or craft distiller may exercise. Existing law authorizes a winegrower, among other things, to sell wine and brandy to any person holding a license authorizing the sale of wine or brandy. Existing law provides that a violation of the act for which another penalty or punishment is not specifically provided for in the act, is a crime, as specified.

This bill would additionally authorize a winegrower to possess and transport brandy for the purpose of storing the brandy to age on the winegrower’s premises. The bill would authorize a craft distiller to transport brandy to and from the premises of a licensed winegrower for the purpose of storing the brandy to age on the winegrower’s premises.

(2)Existing law authorizes a licensed craft distiller to manufacture and produce distilled spirits, subject to specified conditions, including that the licensee manufacture no more than 150,000 gallons of distilled spirits per fiscal year and sell no more than 2.25 liters of prepackaged containers of the licensee’s spirits per day per consumer at its premises.

This bill would authorize a licensed craft distiller to sell up to 4.5 liters of prepackaged containers of the licensee’s spirits per day per consumer at its premises.

(3)Existing law, until January 1, 2026, authorizes a licensed craft distiller to directly ship distilled spirits manufactured or produced by the licensee at its premises to a consumer if they comply with certain requirements, including not shipping more than 2.25 liters in any combination of prepackaged containers per day per consumer.

This bill would authorize a qualifying out-of-state distiller, as defined, whose license is not suspended to directly ship distilled spirits manufactured or produced by the qualifying out-of-state distiller at its premises to a consumer if they comply with the above-described requirements. The bill would, in addition to the requirements described above, require a licensed craft distiller, or qualifying out-of-state distiller, to hold a current distilled spirits direct shipper permit issued by the department. The bill would require, in order to obtain and maintain a distilled spirits direct shipper permit, a licensed craft distiller, or qualifying out-of-state distiller, to, among other things, file an application for the permit with the department and pay specified fees. The bill would authorize the department to enforce the above-described provisions related to direct shipping through administrative proceedings, as provided. The bill would make the sale and shipment of distilled spirits directly to consumers without a permit a crime, as specified. By expanding the scope of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would extend the operation of the above-described direct shipping provisions until January 1, 2027.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. October 3, 2025Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 295, Statutes of 2025.
2. October 3, 2025Approved by the Governor.
3. September 24, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
4. September 13, 2025Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 73. Noes 1. Page 3499.).
5. September 13, 2025Joint Rules 61(a)(14) and 51(a)(4) suspended. (Ayes 59. Noes 20. Page 3413.)
6. September 12, 2025From committee: That the Senate amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (September 12).
7. September 12, 2025Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 3356.)
8. September 12, 2025Re-referred to Com. on G.O. pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2.
9. September 12, 2025In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
10. September 11, 2025Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2926.).
11. September 10, 2025From special consent calendar.
12. September 10, 2025Ordered to third reading.