Exclusive areas for wholesales

311.182. Exclusive areas for wholesales — violation of area limitations by wholesalers or brewers, penalties. — 1. No brewer or manufacturer of malt liquor, who designates a specific geographic area for which a wholesaler shall be responsible, shall enter into any agreement with any other person for the purpose of establishing an additional wholesaler for the same brands of malt liquor in such designated area. Provided, however, that section 311.181 and this section shall not prevent a brewer, manufacturer or wholesaler of malt liquor from exercising or enforcing any rights or obligations established by or contained within any written agreement required by section 311.181.

2. Any wholesaler or brewer who shall violate the provisions of section 311.181 or this section, or permit his employees, officers or agents to do so, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished only as follows:

(1) For the first offense, by a fine of one thousand dollars;

(2) For a second offense, by a fine of five thousand dollars; and

(3) For a third offense, by a fine of twenty-five thousand dollars.

3. The provisions of section 311.720 shall not apply to this section.