Except as otherwise prohibited under Article 3 of this Chapter, a commercial permittee licensed under this Article, or its agent or employee, may consume samples of alcoholic beverages it is licensed to sell, free of charge, for purposes of sensory analysis, quality control, or education on any of the following premises:
(1) The permittee's premises licensed for commercial activity under Article 11 of this Chapter.
(2) The permittee's premises licensed for retail activity under Article 10 of this Chapter, if the commercial permittee is authorized to hold a retail permit under Article 11 of this Chapter and the commercial permittee has obtained the appropriate retail permit under G.S. 18B-1001.
(3) The premises of a special one-time permittee under G.S. 18B-1002.
(4) The premises of a special event where a commercial permittee is participating pursuant to a permit issued under G.S. 18B-1114.1 or G.S. 18B-1114.5.