Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 61-6-1500, the sampling of wines containing over sixteen percent by volume of alcohol, cordials, and other distilled spirits sold in a retail alcoholic liquor store is authorized if the sampling is conducted as follows:
- (1) No sample may be offered from more than four products at any one time.
- (2) No more than one bottle of each of the four products to be sampled may be opened.
- (3) The sampling must be held in a designated tasting area of the retail liquor store and all open bottles must be visible at all times. All open bottles must be removed at the conclusion of the tasting.
- (4) Samples must be less than one-half ounce for each product sampled.
- (5) No person may be served more than one sample of each product.
- (6) No sampling may be offered for longer than four hours.
- (7) At least ten days before the sampling, a letter detailing the specific date and hours of the sampling must be mailed first class to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
- (8) No sample may be offered to, or allowed to be consumed by, an intoxicated person or a person under the age of twenty-one years. This person must not be allowed to loiter on the store premises.
- (9) The tastings must be conducted by the manufacturer or an agent of the manufacturer, and must not be conducted by a wholesaler, retailer, or employee of a wholesaler or retailer.
- (10) No retail alcoholic liquor store may offer more than one sampling per day.