(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a brewer or distributor directly or indirectly, or through a subsidiary, affiliate, agent, employee, officer, director, or firm member, may not:
(1) furnish, give, or lend any money or other thing of value to a person engaged or about to be engaged in selling brewery products for on-premises or off-premises consumption, or give the person any money or thing of value for the person's use, benefit, or relief; or
(2) guarantee the repayment of a loan or the fulfillment of a financial obligation of a person engaged in or about to be engaged in selling malt beverages at retail.
(b) Subsection (a) does not prohibit a brewer or distributor from prearranging or preannouncing a promotional activity otherwise permitted by this code with a retailer about a promotional activity to be held on the retailer's premises. Notwithstanding any other provision, a brewer or distributor may:
(1) preannounce a promotion to a consumer; or
(2) preannounce the purchase of malt beverages to a consumer.