N.Y. Alcoholic Beverage Control Law § 30: Mead producers' license

§ 30. Mead producers' license. 1. Any person may apply to the liquor

authority for a mead producers' license as provided for in this section.

Such application shall be in writing and shall contain such information

as the liquor authority shall require. Such application shall be

accompanied by a check or draft for the amount required by this

subdivision for such license. If the liquor authority shall grant the

application it shall issue a license in such form as shall be determined

by its rules. A license issued under this subdivision shall authorize

the licensee to manufacture mead and braggot within the licensed

premises in this state for sale in bottles, barrels or casks to beer,

wine and liquor retail licensees pursuant to section thirty-two of this

article and to sell and deliver mead and braggot to persons outside the

state pursuant to the laws of the place of such sale or delivery. The

annual fee for such a license shall be one hundred twenty-five dollars;

provided, however, that the annual fee for a farm meadery license shall

be seventy-five dollars. The provisions contained in section sixty-seven

of this chapter shall apply to all licenses issued pursuant to this

article.

2. (a) Any person licensed pursuant to subdivision one of this section

may conduct mead tastings of New York state labelled meads in

establishments licensed pursuant to section sixty-three of this chapter

to sell alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption. Such mead

producer or wholesaler may charge a fee of not more than twenty-five

cents for each mead sample tasted. The liquor authority shall promulgate

rules and regulations relating to the conduct of such tastings.

(b) Any person licensed pursuant to subdivision one of this section

may conduct tastings of New York state labelled mead and New York state

labeled braggot and apply to the liquor authority for a permit to sell

mead and braggot produced by such mead producer or wholesaler, by the

bottle, during such tastings in establishments licensed pursuant to

section sixty-four of this chapter to sell alcoholic beverages for

consumption on the premises. Such mead producer may charge a fee of not

more than twenty-five cents for each mead or braggot sample tasted. The

liquor authority shall promulgate rules and regulations relating to the

conduct of tastings.

(c) Mead and braggot tastings shall be conducted subject to the

following limitations:

(i) mead and braggot tastings shall be conducted by an official agent,

representative or solicitor of one or more mead producers or

wholesalers. Such agent, representative or solicitor shall be physically

present at all times during the conduct of the tastings; and

(ii) any liability stemming from a right of action resulting from a

mead and/or braggot tasting as authorized pursuant to this subdivision

and in accordance with the provisions of sections 11-100 and 11-101 of

the general obligations law, shall accrue to the mead producer or

wholesaler licensee.

3. A licensed mead producer producing New York state labelled mead

and/or New York state labelled braggot may:

(a) sell such mead and braggot to licensed farm distillers, farm

wineries, farm cideries and farm breweries. All such mead and braggot

sold by the licensee shall be securely sealed and have attached thereto

a label as shall be required by section one hundred seven-a of this

chapter;

(b) conduct tastings at the licensed premises of such mead and braggot

or any other New York state labeled mead or braggot;

(c) sell such mead and braggot at retail for consumption off the

premises at the state fair, at recognized county fairs and at farmers

markets operated on a not-for-profit basis;

(d) sell and conduct tastings of such mead and braggot at retail for

consumption on the premises of a restaurant, conference center, inn, bed

and breakfast or hotel business owned and operated by the licensee in or

adjacent to its meadery. A licensee who operates a restaurant,

conference center, inn, bed and breakfast or hotel pursuant to such

authority shall comply with all applicable provisions of this chapter

which relate to licenses to sell mead at retail for consumption on the

premises;

(e) apply for a permit to conduct tastings away from the licensed

premises of such mead and braggot. Such permit shall be valid throughout

the state and may be issued on an annual basis or for individual events.

Each such permit and the exercise of the privilege granted thereby shall

be subject to such rules and conditions of the authority as it deems

necessary. Tastings shall be conducted subject to the following

conditions:

(i) tastings shall be conducted by an official agent, representative

or solicitor of the licensee. Such agent, representative or solicitor

shall be physically present at all times during the conduct of the

tastings; and

(ii) any liability stemming from a right of action resulting from a

tasting of mead or braggot as authorized herein and in accordance with

the provisions of sections 11-100 and 11-101 of the general obligations

law, shall accrue to the licensee.

(f) if it holds a tasting permit issued pursuant to paragraph (e) of

this subdivision, apply to the authority for a permit to sell such mead,

for consumption off the premises, during such tastings in premises

licensed under section sixty-four or sixty-four-a of this chapter; or

apply to the authority for a permit to sell such mead and/or braggot at

a premises licensed under section eighty-one or eighty-one-a of this

chapter. Each such permit and the exercise of the privilege granted

thereby shall be subject to such rules and conditions of the authority

as it deems necessary.

4. A mead producer shall manufacture at least fifty gallons of mead

and/or braggot annually.