2013 -- S 0477

=======

LC01893

=======

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

____________

A N A C T

RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES - RETAIL LICENSES

     Introduced By: Senator Maryellen Goodwin

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1-1

     SECTION 1. Section 3-7-4.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 3-7 entitled "Retail

1-2

Licenses" is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-3

     3-7-4.1. Holders of retail Class A licenses permitted to conduct wine and beer

1-4

samplings inside licensed premises Holders of retail Class A licenses permitted to conduct

1-5

wine, beer, and distilled spirit samplings inside licensed premises. -- Any holder of a Class A

1-6

retail license shall be permitted to conduct at no charge to the consumer, inside the premises of

1-7

the licensee, sample tastings of wine (under 13% alcohol by volume), and beer (under 5.5%

1-8

alcohol by volume) and distilled spirits available for purchase from the licensee's outlet. These

1-9

samples shall not exceed one ounce servings of each wine, the number of wines being limited to

1-10

no more than four (4) products at any one tasting and one ounce serving of each beer with the

1-11

number of beer samplings being limited to two (2) products at any one tasting and one quarter

1-12

ounce serving (1/4 oz) of each distilled spirit, the number of distilled spirits being limited to no

1-13

more than two (2) products at any one tasting. Furthermore, wine, and beer and distilled spirits

1-14

samplings may not be conducted simultaneously on the same Class A licensed premise. Each

1-15

consumer shall be limited to no more than one sample tasting of each product.

1-16

      It shall be required that the licensee provide, at no charge to the consumer, food

1-17

samplings to be included with the tasting of all wine and beer. Those food samplings not

1-18

consumed during the tasting shall not thereafter be offered for sale.

1-19

      The licensee shall control, without wholesaler or supplier participation, the dispensing of

1-20

all samples to prospective customers. The licensee may not hold more than ten (10) tasting events

2-1

in any thirty (30) day period. It shall be required that the licensee provide to the dispenser(s) of

2-2

said wine and beer samples, training in the service of alcoholic beverages by a recognized

2-3

training provider of alcoholic beverage service.

2-4

      Sampling events may not be promoted except on the licensed premises. It shall be

2-5

unlawful for any wholesaler, manufacturer, supplier or any other person or entity to participate or

2-6

provide anything or any service of value on account of or in conjunction with any such sampling.

2-7

It shall be unlawful for any tasting or combination of tastings to exceed more than four (4) hours

2-8

from start to finish and must be conducted during the normal hours of business.

2-9

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

=======

LC01893

=======

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES - RETAIL LICENSES

***

3-1

     This act would add certain amounts of distilled spirits to the permitted samples which

3-2

may be distributed by class A license holders.

3-3

     This act would take effect upon passage.

=======

LC01893

=======