(1)
(a) Before a person may purchase, store, sell, offer for sale, distribute, or import beer to a person who sells at retail or acts in any way as a beer wholesaler, the person shall first obtain a beer wholesaling license issued by the commission in accordance with this chapter.
(b) A violation of Subsection (1)(a) is a class A misdemeanor.
(2)
(a) The commission may issue a beer wholesaling license for the purchase, storage, sale, distribution, transportation, and import of beer.
(b) A beer wholesaling license entitles the beer wholesaler licensee to:
(i) purchase and import beer into the state;
(ii) store beer in an approved warehouse; and
(iii) sell and distribute beer directly to:
(A) a beer retailer; or
(B) an event permittee.
(3) Nothing in this section precludes a small brewer from selling beer the small brewer manufactures directly to:
(a) a retail licensee;
(b) an off-premise beer retailer; or
(c) an event permittee.