Beer and Wine Distributor Licenses
If your business distributes beer and table wine to licensed retailers in Montana, you are a beer and table wine distributor.
License Qualification Requirements
To qualify for a distributor license, you must maintain:
- A fixed place of business
- Sufficient capital
- Facilities capable of:
- Storing
- Receiving
- Handling
- Moving beer or wine in large quantities
Sub-Warehouse Licenses
A distributor may apply for a separate license for each sub-warehouse.
- Each sub-warehouse must meet all distributor licensing requirements
- Sub-warehouse licensing is authorized under 16-4-103, MCA.
Fees
- New License Fee: $400
- Application Processing Fee: $200
- Renewal Fee: $400
Note: Application processing fees apply only to original applications and do not apply to renewals
- New License Fee: $400
- Application Processing Fee: $100
- Renewal Fee: $400
Note: Application processing fees apply only to original applications and do not apply to renewals
License Requirements
Before receiving shipments from a brewery or winery, you must submit a distributorship agreement to the Cannabis and Alcohol Regulation Division (CARD) and ensure:
- The brewery or winery holds a Montana license or registration
- All product labels are approved by CARD
You may pick up and receive product from an importer if the importer:
- Holds a Montana license and registration, and
- Has a distributor agreement with the brewery or winery
A distributorship agreement must include:
- Designated territory(ies)
- Pricing requirements
- You may deliver beer and wine only within your designated territory
- Delivery is limited to:
- Licensed retailers, and
- Special permit holders
Before distributing products to a retailer, you must:
- Ensure all products are approved for sale in Montana
- File a copy of your wholesale/distributor agreement with CARD
Catered or Special Events: Do's and Don'ts
A wholesaler or distributor may provide products for special events. Here are the guidelines for what you may and may not do:
A distributor may:
- Set up equipment for the sale and service of beer and wine
- Provide advice about beer and table wine
- Deliver product to special or catered events
- Provide prizes for consumer sweepstakes
- Offer the same pricing and promotional support to all retailers
- Deliver beer and wine to licensed retailers
- Sell and deliver beer and wine to special or catering permittees
- Accept returns of product after a special permitted event
- Pour and serve samples to customers and their employees at a licensed on-premises retailer
- Allow employees, on their own time, to volunteer to pour beer and wine at charity events
- Leave samples at off-premises establishments
- Verify a nonprofit has a special event permit before delivery
- Deliver product on the day the special permittee is approved
- Sell beer or wine to someone with temporary operating authority
- Sell non-alcoholic products to licensed and unlicensed retailers
- Furnish functional advertising to retailers not exceeding $300
A distributor may not:
- Help sell or service beer and table wine
- Pour or serve beer and wine (except where specifically allowed above)
- Accept returns after a catered event
- Cooperatively purchase prizes with a retailer
- Offer selective pricing or promotions
- Ship beer or wine over allowable limits
- Drop off product at an event without selling it
- Accept returns because a retailer removes a product from their menu
- Pour or serve beer and wine to the public
- Allow employees wearing company apparel to pour beer or wine at charity events
- Open or pour samples at an off-premises licensed location
- Deliver product without verifying permits or catering endorsements
- Store product for a special permittee across multiple events
- Sell beer or wine without proof of license or temporary operating authority
- Give non-alcoholic products to secure draft handles or displays
- Split advertising costs with a retailer