Section 60-8A-1 - Unfair competition; exclusive outlet; tied house; consignment salesIt is unlawful for an importer, manufacturer, nonresident licensee or any kind or class of wholesaler, directly or indirectly, or through an affiliate:
A. to require by agreement or otherwise that a wholesaler, retailer, dispenser, canopy licensee, restaurant licensee, club licensee or governmental licensee or its lessee engaged in the sale of alcoholic beverages in the state purchase alcoholic beverages from that person to the exclusion in whole or in part of alcoholic beverages sold or offered for sale by other persons;B. to induce through any of the following means, a wholesaler, retailer, dispenser, canopy licensee, restaurant licensee, club licensee or governmental licensee or its lessee engaged in the sale of any kind or class of alcoholic beverages to purchase alcoholic beverages from that person to the exclusion in whole or in part of alcoholic beverages sold or offered for sale by other persons:(1) by acquiring or holding, after the expiration of an existing license, an interest in a license with respect to the premises of the wholesaler, retailer, dispenser, canopy licensee, restaurant licensee, club licensee or governmental licensee or its lessee;(2) by acquiring an interest in real or personal property owned, occupied or used by a wholesaler, retailer, dispenser, restaurant licensee or club licensee in the conduct of the buying wholesaler's, retailer's, dispenser's, canopy licensee's, restaurant licensee's, club licensee's or governmental licensee's or its lessee's business, subject to exceptions that the director may prescribe, having due regard for the free flow of commerce, the purposes of this subsection and established trade customs not contrary to the public interest;(3) by furnishing, giving, renting, lending or selling to a wholesaler, retailer, dispenser, canopy licensee, restaurant licensee, club licensee or governmental licensee or its lessee equipment, fixtures, signs, supplies, money, services or other thing of value, subject to exceptions that the director may by regulation prescribe, having due regard for public health and welfare, the quantity and value of the articles involved and established trade customs not contrary to the public interest and the purposes of this subsection;(4) by paying or crediting the wholesaler, retailer, dispenser, canopy licensee, restaurant licensee, club licensee or governmental licensee or its lessee for advertising, display or distribution services;(5) by requiring a wholesaler, retailer, dispenser, canopy licensee, restaurant licensee, club licensee or governmental licensee or its lessee to take and dispose of a certain quota or combination of alcoholic beverages; or(6) by commercial bribery by offering or giving a bonus, premium or compensation to an officer, employee, agent or representative of a wholesaler, retailer, dispenser, canopy licensee, restaurant licensee, club licensee or governmental licensee or its lessee; orC. to sell, offer for sale or contract to sell to a retailer, dispenser, canopy licensee, restaurant licensee, club licensee or governmental licensee or its lessee alcoholic beverages of any kind or class on consignment or under a conditional sale or on a basis other than a bona fide sale; provided that this subsection shall not apply to transactions involving solely the bona fide return of alcoholic beverages for ordinary and usual commercial reasons arising after the alcoholic beverages have been sold, including a return of alcoholic beverages that are at or near spoilage or expiration date or that were damaged by the wholesaler, but not including a return of alcoholic beverages that were damaged by any other licensee or any other licensee's employees or customers.Laws 1981, ch. 39, § 60; 2015, ch. 102, § 9.Amended by 2015, c. 102,s. 9, eff. 7/1/2015.