Illinois Administrative Code
Title 11 - ALCOHOL, HORSE RACING, LOTTERY, AND VIDEO GAMING
Part 100 - THE ILLINOIS LIQUOR CONTROL COMMISSION
Section 100.285 - Tastings, Product Samplings and Test Marketing
Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 52, December 27, 2024
a) "Product Sampling" or "tastings" mean a supervised presentation of alcoholic liquor products to the public at a retailer location for the purpose of disseminating product information and education, with consumption of alcoholic liquor products being an incidental part of the presentation.
b) Alcoholic liquor product sampling and tastings may be conducted by a manufacturer, non-resident dealer, foreign importer, importing distributor, distributor or retailer or a non-licensee, that complies with Section 100.40 and registers as a tasting representative at retail licensed premises. Only alcoholic liquor products registered with the Commission may be tasted or sampled. Tastings and product sampling may be advertised. The conditions and limitations contained in Section 100.330 and Commission rules shall apply to any manufacturer, non-resident dealer, foreign importer, importing distributor or distributor sponsored tastings or product samplings.
c) Retail premise alcoholic liquor tastings and product samplings, for which there is no charge to the consumer, may be provided in the following amounts: distilled spirits 1/4 oz., wine 1 oz. and beer 2 oz.
d) A licensee may not conduct alcoholic liquor tastings or product sampling at a non-licensed premise. Licensed premises include those premises for which a Special Use or Special Event License has been issued by the unit of local government having regulatory authority over the premises pursuant to the Act and approved by the Commission.
e) Cups, napkins, glassware, coasters and trays shall not be deemed to be inside signs or advertising materials and may only be sold to retailers by a manufacturer, non-resident dealer, foreign importer, importing distributor or distributor.
f) If a retailer previously purchased the alcoholic liquor product to be tasted or sampled, a manufacturer, non-resident dealer, foreign importer, importing distributor or distributor may pay for the product at the retailer's original cost. If the manufacturer, non-resident dealer, foreign importer, importing distributor or distributor supplies the alcoholic liquor product for the tasting or sampling, the product remaining after the tasting or sampling must be returned to the manufacturer, non-resident dealer, foreign importer, importing distributor or distributor.
g) Alcoholic liquor product samplings or tastings in which the consumer pays a reasonable entrance fee in relation to the amount of alcoholic liquor available for tasting or sampling is permitted, subject to the following conditions and limitations:
h) "Test Marketing" means the testing of new alcoholic liquor products or alcoholic liquor products unfamiliar to the sampler through a marketing firm, or the like. The Commission will grant approval for the test marketing of alcoholic liquor on a case-by-case basis, only upon written request. Requests shall state with specificity the parameters of the testing and shall include, at a minimum, the following information: