Instructions for  Providing  Samples at Temporary Events 

Distiller Samples for Consumers at Temporary Events

Authority: distilleries may conduct free samples or tastings (no sales) of their products for the public at certain events away from the distiller’s permanent permitted premises under certain conditions.

Qualifying Events

• It must be a civic or distilled spirits festival, farmers' market, celebration, or similar event
• The term “celebration” covers a broad range of events, regardless of whether the event is public or private

Source of Alcohol for Samples: distiller’s own inventory

• The distilled spirits must have product registration with TABC
• Distiller must pay excise taxes on the products removed from inventory for a temporary event

Sample Limitations

•  Samples may only be poured and served by the distiller
• A sample may not exceed 0.5 ounces
•  Persons that receive the samples may not remove them from the event premises

Obtain Event Authorization: prior to the event, participating distilleries must complete and submit to TABC the File and Use Notification Form

• You must ensure that the owner of the property where the event is to occur has authorized the event
• You do NOT have to answer questions 8-12 when filling out this current File & Use Notification Form. However, when TABC launches their distiller-specific File & Use Form, you will be required to use that form and to answer all questions on that form. 
• TABC will provide information about the Distiller File & Use Notification Form on its Temporary Events webpage when it launches, and will send an email notification to distillers. But for now, please leave questions 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 blank.

Submitting the Form: submit the completed for File and Use Notification Form to TABC at any time prior to the temporary event via email. There are no filing fees for this form.

• The appropriate email address for submitting your form is provided on the form.
• Distillers may leave questions 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 blank. 
• In the future, distillers will be able to submit their forms to TABC via the Alcohol Industry Management System (AIMS). TABC will announce that functionality when it is launched.

Approval: you have approval to provide samples at the event as soon as you email your completed File and Use Notification Form to TABC (you do NOT have to wait to receive approval from TABC).

• A File and Use Notification Form only covers a period of up to 4 consecutive days. If you seek to conduct alcoholic beverage samples at an event for more than 4 days, submit a separate form to TABC for each 4-day period for which you need approval. You should submit all of these separate forms for the same event to TABC at one time.

Venue Limitations: venue must not be covered by another TABC permit. If it is, contact TABC for options

• If the permit holder owns or leases the property at which the off-site event occurs, the permit holder may not conduct more than 10 events at that location in a year (doesn’t apply to short-term, temporary lease at farmers markets and similar events)

 Records Must Be Retained for 4 Years: records must include

• Dollar amount of alcohol purchased and sold/served; number of attendees; and the agreement between permit holder and venue authorizing the event, including the event date, hire date, type of event, and a copy of any event invitation or obituary for a funeral-related event

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