436.1609k Philanthropic gifts and sponsorship payments to colleges and universities; promotion signs; limitations; exceptions; "sports or entertainment venue" defined.

591 words·~3 min read·/mi/chapter-436/436-1609k

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Sec. 609k.

(1)Notwithstanding section 609, a vendor may provide a philanthropic gift or sponsorship payment to a 2- or 4-year college or university located in this state that holds a retail license if the following conditions are met:

(a)The gift does not include alcoholic liquor.

(b)The gift or sponsorship payment is not contingent on the purchase of alcoholic liquor by the governing body of the 2- or 4-year college or university located in this state that is a retailer.

(c)The gift or sponsorship payment is not contingent on the sale of alcoholic liquor at the site at which a retail license is held by the governing body of the 2- or 4-year college or university located in this state the governing body of which is issued a retail license.

(2)A vendor may provide signs that promote the brands and prices of alcoholic liquor for use on the licensed premises of a retail license issued to the governing body of a 2- or 4-year college or university located in this state. All of the following apply to a sign allowed under this subsection:

(a)The sign must not be illuminated.

(b)The sign must not have any use beyond the actual advertising of brands and prices related to the alcoholic liquor.

(c)For a sign that is located inside the retailer's licensed premises, the sign must not be more than 3,500 square inches in dimension.

(d)Notwithstanding anything in this act to the contrary, the signs allowed under this subsection may include the name or logo of the 2- or 4-year college or university located in this state that holds a retail license.

(3)Notwithstanding subsection (2), a sports or entertainment venue for which a retail license has been issued to the governing body of a public university under section 531(8) may contain illuminated advertising signs that have a total area of more than 3,5000 square inches. Any of the following entities may provide and install illuminated advertising signs and advertising signs that have a total area of more than 3,500 square inches per sign:

(a)A brewer.

(b)A micro brewer.

(c)A wine maker.

(d)A small wine maker.

(e)An outstate seller of beer.

(f)An outstate seller of wine.

(g)An outstate seller of mixed spirit drink.

(h)A manufacturer of spirits.

(i)A manufacturer of mixed spirit drink.

(j)A vendor of spirits.

(k)An outstate self-distributor.

(4)Notwithstanding anything in this act to the contrary, a vendor may sell alcoholic liquor that includes on the container or packaging of the alcoholic liquor the name or logo of a 2- or 4-year college or university located in this state that holds a retailer license.

(5)Notwithstanding anything in this act to the contrary, a vendor may provide signs that promote the brands and prices of alcoholic liquor authorized under section 610a and advertising items authorized under section 609 to a retailer if the retailer is a 2- or 4-year college or university located in this state that include the name or logo of a 2- or 4-year college or university located in this state.

(6)As used in this section, "sports or entertainment venue" means the public area of a facility on university property described in section 531(8).

History: Add. 2025, Act 65 , Imd. Eff. Dec. 23, 2025

Compiler's Notes: In subsection (3), “3,5000 square inches” evidently should read “3,500 square inches”.