Collapse to view only § 207. Penalties; jurisdiction; compromise of liability

§ 201. Short title

This subchapter may be cited as the “Federal Alcohol Administration Act”.

(Aug. 29, 1935, ch. 814, title I, § 101, formerly § 1, 49 Stat. 977; renumbered title I, § 101, and amended Pub. L. 100–690, title VIII, § 8001(a)(1), (2), (b)(1), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4517, 4521.)
§ 202. General provisions
(a) to (d) Omitted
(e) Expenditures
(f) Utilization of other governmental agencies
(g) Applicability of other laws
(h) Reports to Secretary
(Aug. 29, 1935, ch. 814, title I, § 102, formerly § 2, 49 Stat. 977; 1940 Reorg. Plan No. III, § 2, eff. June 30, 1940, 5 F.R. 2108, 54 Stat. 1232; Aug. 7, 1946, ch. 770, § 1(46), 60 Stat. 870; renumbered title I, § 102, Pub. L. 100–690, title VIII, § 8001(a)(1), (2), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4517.)
§§ 202a, 202b. Repealed. Pub. L. 89–554, § 8(a), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 649
§ 202c. Omitted
§ 203. Unlawful businesses without permit; application to State agencyIn order effectively to regulate interstate and foreign commerce in distilled spirits, wine, and malt beverages, to enforce the twenty-first amendment, and to protect the revenue and enforce the postal laws with respect to distilled spirits, wine, and malt beverages:
(a) It shall be unlawful, except pursuant to a basic permit issued under this subchapter by the Secretary of the Treasury—
(1) to engage in the business of importing into the United States distilled spirits, wine, or malt beverages; or
(2) for any person so engaged to sell, offer or deliver for sale, contract to sell, or ship, in interstate or foreign commerce, directly or indirectly or through an affiliate, distilled spirits, wine, or malt beverages so imported.
(b) It shall be unlawful, except pursuant to a basic permit issued under this subchapter by the Secretary of the Treasury—
(1) to engage in the business of distilling distilled spirits, producing wine, rectifying or blending distilled spirits or wine, or bottling, or warehousing and bottling, distilled spirits; or
(2) for any person so engaged to sell, offer or deliver for sale, contract to sell, or ship, in interstate or foreign commerce, directly or indirectly or through an affiliate, distilled spirits or wine so distilled, produced, rectified, blended, or bottled, or warehoused and bottled.
(c) It shall be unlawful, except pursuant to a basic permit issued under this subchapter by the Secretary of the Treasury—
(1) to engage in the business of purchasing for resale at wholesale distilled spirits, wine, or malt beverages; or
(2) for any person so engaged to receive or to sell, offer or deliver for sale, contract to sell, or ship, in interstate or foreign commerce, directly or indirectly or through an affiliate, distilled spirits, wine, or malt beverages so purchased.
This subsection shall take effect July 1, 1936.
This section shall not apply to any agency of a State or political subdivision thereof or any officer or employee of any such agency, and no such agency or officer or employee shall be required to obtain a basic permit under this subchapter.
(Aug. 29, 1935, ch. 814, title I, § 103, formerly § 3, 49 Stat. 978; Feb. 29, 1936, ch. 105, § 1, 49 Stat. 1152; 1940 Reorg. Plan No. III, § 2, eff. June 30, 1940, 5 F.R. 2108, 54 Stat. 1232; renumbered title I, § 103, and amended Pub. L. 100–690, title VIII, § 8001(a)(1), (2), (b)(2), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4517, 4521.)
§ 204. Permits
(a) Who entitled thereto
The following persons shall, on application therefor, be entitled to a basic permit:
(1) Any person who, on May 25, 1935, held a basic permit as distiller, rectifier, wine producer, or importer issued by an agency of the Federal Government.
(2) Any other person unless the Secretary of the Treasury finds (A) that such person (or in case of a corporation, any of its officers, directors, or principal stockholders) has, within five years prior to the date of application, been convicted of a felony under Federal or State law or has, within three years prior to date of application, been convicted of a misdemeanor under any Federal law relating to liquor, including the taxation thereof; or (B) that such person is, by reason of his business experience, financial standing, or trade connections, not likely to commence operations within a reasonable period or to maintain such operations in conformity with Federal law; or (C) that the operations proposed to be conducted by such person are in violation of the law of the State in which they are to be conducted.
(b) Refusal of permit; hearing
(c) Form of application
(d) Conditions
(e) Revocation, suspension, and annulment
(f) Service of orders
(g) Duration
(h) Appeal; procedure
(i) Limitation
(Aug. 29, 1935, ch. 814, title I, § 104, formerly § 4, 49 Stat. 978; 1940 Reorg. Plan No. III, § 2, eff. June 30, 1940, 5 F.R. 2108, 54 Stat. 1232; June 25, 1948, ch. 646, § 32(a), 62 Stat. 991; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 127, 63 Stat. 107; Pub. L. 85–791, § 14, Aug. 28, 1958, 72 Stat. 946; renumbered title I, § 104, and amended Pub. L. 100–690, title VIII, § 8001(a)(1), (2), (b)(2), (3), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4517, 4521.)
§ 205. Unfair competition and unlawful practices
It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in business as a distiller, brewer, rectifier, blender, or other producer, or as an importer or wholesaler, of distilled spirits, wine, or malt beverages, or as a bottler, or warehouseman and bottler, of distilled spirits, directly or indirectly or through an affiliate:
(a) Exclusive outlet
(b) “Tied house”
(c) Commercial bribery
(d) Consignment sales
(e) Labeling
(f) Advertising

(Aug. 29, 1935, ch. 814, title I, § 105, formerly § 5, 49 Stat. 981; Feb. 29, 1936, ch. 105, § 2, 49 Stat. 1152; June 25, 1936, ch. 804, 49 Stat. 1921; June 26, 1936, ch. 830, title V, §§ 505, 506, 49 Stat. 1965, 1966; 1940 Reorg. Plan No. III, § 2, eff. June 30, 1940, 5 F.R. 2108, 54 Stat. 1232; Apr. 20, 1942, ch. 244, § 1(h), 56 Stat. 219; June 25, 1948, ch. 646, § 32(b), 62 Stat. 991; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 127, 63 Stat. 107; renumbered title I, § 105, and amended Pub. L. 100–690, title VIII, § 8001(a)(1), (2), (b)(2), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4517, 4521; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4732(b)(13)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–584.)
§ 206. Bulk sales and bottling
(a) Offenses
It shall be unlawful for any person—
(1) To sell or offer to sell, contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of distilled spirits in bulk except, under regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury, for export or to the following, or to import distilled spirits in bulk except, under such regulations, for sale to or for use by the following: A distiller, rectifier of distilled spirits, person operating a bonded warehouse qualified under the internal-revenue laws or a class 8 bonded warehouse qualified under the customs laws, a winemaker for the fortification of wines, a proprietor of an industrial alcohol plant, or an agency of the United States or any State or political subdivision thereof.
(2) To sell or offer to sell, contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of warehouse receipts for distilled spirits in bulk unless such warehouse receipts require that the warehouseman shall package such distilled spirits, before delivery, in bottles labeled and marked in accordance with law, or deliver such distilled spirits in bulk only to persons to whom it is lawful to sell or otherwise dispose of distilled spirits in bulk.
(3) To bottle distilled spirits unless the bottler is a person to whom it is lawful to sell or otherwise dispose of distilled spirits in bulk.
(b) Penalty
(c) “In bulk” defined
(Aug. 29, 1935, ch. 814, title I, § 106, formerly § 6, 49 Stat. 985; 1940 Reorg. Plan No. III, § 2, eff. June 30, 1940, 5 F.R. 2108, 54 Stat. 1232; renumbered title I, § 106, Pub. L. 100–690, title VIII, § 8001(a)(1), (2), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4517.)
§ 207. Penalties; jurisdiction; compromise of liability

The District Courts of the United States, and the United States court for any Territory, of the District where the offense is committed or threatened or of which the offender is an inhabitant or has his principal place of business, are vested with jurisdiction of any suit brought by the Attorney General in the name of the United States, to prevent and restrain violations of any of the provisions of this subchapter. Any person violating any of the provisions of section 203 or 205 of this title shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof be fined not more than $1,000 for each offense. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized, with respect to any violation of this subchapter, to compromise the liability arising with respect to such violation (1) upon payment of a sum not in excess of $500 for each offense, to be collected by the Secretary and to be paid into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts, and (2) in case of repetitious violations and in order to avoid multiplicity of criminal proceedings, upon agreement to a stipulation, that the United States may, on its own motion upon five days’ notice to the violator, cause a consent decree to be entered by any court of competent jurisdiction enjoining the repetition of such violation.

(Aug. 29, 1935, ch. 814, title I, § 107, formerly § 7, 49 Stat. 985; June 25, 1936, ch. 804, 49 Stat. 1921; 1940 Reorg. Plan No. III, § 2, eff. June 30, 1940, 5 F.R. 2108, 54 Stat. 1232; 1940 Reorg. Plan No. IV, § 2, eff. June 30, 1940, 5 F.R. 2421, 54 Stat. 1234; June 25, 1948, ch. 646, § 32(b), 62 Stat. 991; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 127, 63 Stat. 107; renumbered title I, § 107, and amended Pub. L. 100–690, title VIII, § 8001(a)(1), (2), (b)(2), (4), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4517, 4521.)
§ 208. Interlocking directorates
(a) Offenses
(b) Conditions of lawfully taking office
An individual may, without regard to the provisions of subsection (a), take office as an officer or director of a company described in said subsection while holding the position of officer or director of any other such company if such companies are affiliates at the time of his taking office and if—
(1) Such companies are affiliates on August 29, 1935; or
(2) Each of such companies has been organized under the law of a State to comply with a requirement thereof under which, as a condition of doing business in such State, such company must be organized under the law of such State; or
(3) One or more such companies has been organized under the law of a State to comply with a requirement thereof under which, as a condition of doing business in such State, such company must be organized under the laws of such State, and the other one or more of such companies not so organized, is in existence on August 29, 1935; or
(4) One or more of such companies has been organized under the law of a State to comply with a requirement thereof under which, as a condition of doing business in such State, such company must be organized under the law of such State, and not more than one of such companies is a company which has not been so organized and which has been organized after August 29, 1935.
(c) “Company” defined
(d) Penalty
(Aug. 29, 1935, ch. 814, title I, § 108, formerly § 8, 49 Stat. 986; June 25, 1936, ch. 804, 49 Stat. 1921; 1940 Reorg. Plan No. III, § 2, eff. June 30, 1940, 5 F.R. 2108, 54 Stat. 1232; June 25, 1948, ch. 646, § 32(b), 62 Stat. 991; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 127, 63 Stat. 107; renumbered title I, § 108, and amended Pub. L. 100–690, title VIII, § 8001(a)(1), (2), (b)(2), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4517, 4521.)
§§ 209, 210. Omitted
§ 211. Miscellaneous provisions
(a) Definitions
As used in this subchapter—
(1) The term “United States” means the several States and Territories and the District of Columbia; the term “State” includes a Territory and the District of Columbia; and the term “Territory” means Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
(2) The term “interstate or foreign commerce” means commerce between any State and any place outside thereof, or commerce within any Territory or the District of Columbia, or between points within the same State but through any place outside thereof.
(3) The term “person” means individual, partnership, joint stock company, business trust, association, corporation, or other form of business enterprise, including a receiver, trustee, or liquidating agent and including an officer or employee of any agency of a State or political subdivision thereof; and the term “trade buyer” means any person who is a wholesaler or retailer.
(4) The term “affiliate” means any one of two or more persons if one of such persons has actual or legal control, directly or indirectly, whether by stock ownership or otherwise, of the other or others of such persons; and any one of two or more persons subject to common control, actual or legal, directly or indirectly, whether by stock ownership or otherwise.
(5) The term “distilled spirits” means ethyl alcohol, hydrated oxide of ethyl, spirits of wine, whiskey, rum, brandy, gin, and other distilled spirits, including all dilutions and mixtures thereof, for non-industrial use.
(6) The term “wine” means (1) wine as defined in section 610 and section 617 of the Revenue Act of 1918 as now in force or hereafter amended, and (2) other alcoholic beverages not so defined, but made in the manner of wine, including sparkling and carbonated wine, wine made from condensed grape must, wine made from other agricultural products than the juice of sound, ripe grapes, imitation wine, compounds sold as wine, vermouth, cider, perry and sake; in each instance only if containing not less than 7 per centum and not more than 24 per centum of alcohol by volume, and if for non-industrial use.
(7) The term “malt beverage” means a beverage made by the alcoholic fermentation of an infusion or decoction, or combination of both, in potable brewing water, of malted barley with hops, or their parts, or their products, and with or without other malted cereals, and with or without the addition of unmalted or prepared cereals, other carbohydrates or products prepared therefrom, and with or without the addition of carbon dioxide, and with or without other wholesome products suitable for human food consumption.
(8) The term “bottle” means any container, irrespective of the material from which made, for use for the sale of distilled spirits, wine, or malt beverages at retail.
(b) Right to amend or repeal
(c) Separability
(Aug. 29, 1935, ch. 814, title I, § 117, formerly § 17, 49 Stat. 989; 1940 Reorg. Plan No. III, § 2, eff. June 30, 1940, 5 F.R. 2108, 54 Stat. 1232; renumbered title I, § 117, and amended Pub. L. 100–690, title VIII, § 8001(a)(1), (2), (b)(2), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4517, 4521.)
§ 212. Omitted