16-4-111. (Temporary) Catering endorsement for beer and wine licensees. (1) (a) A person who is licensed to sell beer at retail or beer and wine at retail for on-premises consumption may, on the approval of the department, be granted a catering endorsement to the license to allow the catering and sale of beer or beer and wine to persons attending a special event on premises not otherwise licensed for the sale of beer or beer and wine for on-premises consumption. The beer or wine must be consumed on the premises where the event is held.

(b) A person who is licensed pursuant to 16-4-420 to sell beer at retail or beer and wine at retail for on-premises consumption may, on the approval of the department, be granted a catering endorsement to the license to allow the catering and sale of beer and wine to persons attending a special event on premises not otherwise licensed for the sale of beer or beer and wine, along with food equal in cost to 65% of the total gross revenue from the catering contract, for on-premises consumption. The beer or wine must be consumed on the premises where the event is held.

(c) A person licensed under 16-4-105 to sell beer and wine at retail for on-premises consumption at a guest ranch may, on the approval of the department, be granted a guest ranch catering endorsement to the license to allow the catering and sale of beer and wine to guests of the guest ranch for events at locations on the guest ranch other than the licensed premises. These events do not need to be special events. The beer and wine must be consumed where the event is held.

(2) An application for a catering endorsement and an annual fee of $200 must be submitted to the department for its approval.

(3) With the exception of a guest ranch catering endorsement, a licensee who holds a catering endorsement may not cater an event in which the licensee or the concessionaire of the licensee is the sponsor. The catered event must be within 100 miles of the licensee's licensed premises measured in a straight line from the nearest entrance of the licensed premises to the nearest boundary of the catered event.

(4) Except as provided in subsection (8), the storage of alcoholic beverages may occur on the premises of the catered event 1 day prior to the catered event until 1 day following the conclusion of the catered event if the alcoholic beverages are in a secured location that prevents access by anyone other than the licensee or the licensee's employees.

(5) With the exception of a guest ranch catering endorsement, the licensee shall notify the local law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the premises that the catered event is to be held. A local government may charge a fee of $35.

(6) The sale of beer or beer and wine pursuant to a catering endorsement is subject to the provisions of 16-6-103.

(7) The sale of beer or beer and wine pursuant to a catering endorsement is subject to the provisions of 16-3-306, unless entities named in 16-3-306 give their written approval for the on-premises sale of beer or beer and wine on premises where the event is to be held.

(8) A licensee may sell and serve beer and wine in the grandstands and bleacher area of the premises, as well as from a booth, stand, or other fixed placed on the premises when the catered event is held on the premises of a county fairground, public sports arena, or Montana university as defined in 16-4-112. If the licensee has a written agreement with the state of Montana, a political subdivision of the state, or a Montana university to sell and serve beer and wine for multiple catered events at the premises, the licensee may store beer and wine to be used for the catered events on the premises of the fairground, public sports arena, or Montana university for the length of the written agreement if the beer and wine can be stored in a secure location that prevents access by anyone other than the licensee or the licensee's employees. Each catered event held at the premises is subject to the requirement in subsection (5) and must be individually reported to the department.

(9) A licensee may not share revenue from the sale of alcoholic beverages with the sponsor of the catered event unless the sponsor is the state of Montana, a political subdivision of the state, a Montana university as provided in 16-4-112, or a qualified entity under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 501(c), as amended.

16-4-111. (Effective July 1, 2024) Catering endorsement for beer and wine licensees. (1) (a) A person who is licensed to sell beer and wine at retail for on-premises consumption may, on the approval of the department, be granted a catering endorsement to the license to allow the catering and sale of beer and wine to persons attending a special event on premises not otherwise licensed for the sale of beer and wine for on-premises consumption. The beer or wine must be consumed on the premises where the event is held.

(b) A person who is licensed pursuant to 16-4-420 to sell beer and wine at retail for on-premises consumption may, on the approval of the department, be granted a catering endorsement to the license to allow the catering and sale of beer and wine to persons attending a special event on premises not otherwise licensed for the sale of beer and wine, along with food equal in cost to 65% of the total gross revenue from the catering contract, for on-premises consumption. The beer or wine must be consumed on the premises where the event is held.

(c) A person licensed under 16-4-105 to sell beer and wine at retail for on-premises consumption at a guest ranch may, on the approval of the department, be granted a guest ranch catering endorsement to the license to allow the catering and sale of beer and wine to guests of the guest ranch for events at locations on the guest ranch other than the licensed premises. These events do not need to be special events. The beer and wine must be consumed where the event is held.

(2) An application for a catering endorsement and an annual fee of $200 must be submitted to the department for its approval.

(3) With the exception of a guest ranch catering endorsement, a licensee who holds a catering endorsement may not cater an event in which the licensee or the concessionaire of the licensee is the sponsor. The catered event must be within 100 miles of the licensee's licensed premises measured in a straight line from the nearest entrance of the licensed premises to the nearest boundary of the catered event.

(4) Except as provided in subsection (8), the storage of alcoholic beverages may occur on the premises of the catered event 1 day prior to the catered event until 1 day following the conclusion of the catered event if the alcoholic beverages are in a secured location that prevents access by anyone other than the licensee or the licensee's employees.

(5) With the exception of a guest ranch catering endorsement, the licensee shall notify the local law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the premises that the catered event is to be held. A local government may charge a fee of $35.

(6) The sale of beer and wine pursuant to a catering endorsement is subject to the provisions of 16-6-103.

(7) The sale of beer and wine pursuant to a catering endorsement is subject to the provisions of 16-3-306, unless entities named in 16-3-306 give their written approval for the on-premises sale of beer and wine on premises where the event is to be held.

(8) A licensee may sell and serve beer and wine in the grandstands and bleacher area of the premises, as well as from a booth, stand, or other fixed placed on the premises when the catered event is held on the premises of a county fairground, public sports arena, or Montana university as defined in 16-4-112. If the licensee has a written agreement with the state of Montana, a political subdivision of the state, or a Montana university to sell and serve beer and wine for multiple catered events at the premises, the licensee may store beer and wine to be used for the catered events on the premises of the fairground, public sports arena, or Montana university for the length of the written agreement if the beer and wine can be stored in a secure location that prevents access by anyone other than the licensee or the licensee's employees. Each catered event held at the premises is subject to the requirement in subsection (5) and must be individually reported to the department.

(9) A licensee may not share revenue from the sale of alcoholic beverages with the sponsor of the catered event unless the sponsor is the state of Montana, a political subdivision of the state, a Montana university as provided in 16-4-112, or a qualified entity under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 501(c), as amended.