HB445 Alabama 2020 Session

Under existing law, wine manufacturers and importers are required to sell wine through a licensed wholesaler

This bill would require each supplier of wine to designate sales territories for each of its brands and enter into an exclusive franchise agreement with a wholesaler for each sales territory

This bill would set conditions and requirements for franchise agreements between suppliers and wholesale distributors of wine, including provisions for the modification, termination, cancellation, nonrenewal, or discontinuance of an agreement

This bill would apply to franchise agreements entered into before, on, or after December 31, 2019, with exceptions

This bill would provide further duties of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board

Relating to alcoholic beverages; to add Chapter 8A to Title 28 of the Code of Alabama 1975; to require licensed importers and manufacturers of wine to enter into exclusive franchise agreements with wholesalers; to regulate franchise agreements between suppliers and wholesalers of wine; to provide for other business relations between suppliers and wholesalers of wine; to provide that the new Chapter 8A would retroactively apply to agreements entered into before, on, and after December 31, 2019; and to provide for an effective date.