AB-1991 • 2026

Alcoholic beverages: market research study: taste testing.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Aguiar-Curry
Last action: 2026-06-03
Official status: Referred to Com. on G.O.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the number of taste tests that can be conducted or participant limits.

Alcoholic Beverages: Taste Testing for Market Research

The bill allows licensed alcohol producers to conduct taste tests as part of market research studies, under certain conditions.

What This Bill Does

Allows winegrowers, beer manufacturers, distilled spirits makers, craft distillers, brandy makers, rectifiers, and wine rectifiers to give tastes of their products for market research.
Requires that the taste tests are part of a real market study to understand how consumers feel about the sensory qualities of alcoholic drinks.
Specifies that participants should only taste enough alcohol to form an opinion.

Who It Names or Affects

Licensed winegrowers, beer manufacturers, distilled spirits makers, craft distillers, brandy makers, rectifiers, and wine rectifiers
People who participate in taste tests for market research

Terms To Know

Licensee: A person or company that has a legal permit to sell alcoholic beverages.
Market Research Study: An investigation done by businesses to understand what customers think about their products.

Limits and Unknowns

It is unclear how many taste tests will be conducted or if there are limits on the number of participants.
The bill only allows taste testing under specific conditions and does not permit giving away free alcohol.

Bill History

2026-06-03 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on G.O.
2026-05-21 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-21 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 73. Noes 0.)
2026-05-18 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).
2026-04-22 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2026-04-09 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 22. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-03-10 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on G.O.
2026-03-09 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on G.O. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-09 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on G.O.
2026-02-18 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 20.
2026-02-17 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1991, as amended,
Flora
Aguiar-Curry.
City council members: absences without permission.
Alcoholic beverages: market research study: taste testing.
Existing law, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, which is administered by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, regulates the application for, and issuance and suspension of, alcoholic beverage licenses. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act prohibits a licensee from giving a premium, gift, or free goods in connection with the sale and distribution of any alcoholic beverage, except as provided.
This bill would authorize a licensed winegrower, licensed beer manufacturer, licensed distilled spirits manufacturer, licensed craft distiller, licensed brandy manufacturer, licensed rectifier, or licensed wine rectifier to furnish tastes of alcoholic
beverages as part of a bona fide market research study undertaken by or for the licensee for the sole purpose of measuring consumer perceptions with respect to the sensory characteristics of the alcoholic beverages. The bill would authorize the taste testing to be conducted in the state, subject to specified conditions, including that a taste testing participant is, among other things, encouraged to taste only enough alcoholic beverage product to formulate an opinion.
Existing law provides that if a city council member is absent without permission from all regular city council meetings for a specified number of days from the last regular meeting they attended, their office becomes vacant and shall be filled as any other vacancy.
This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to that provision.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF