2016 -- S 2703

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LC005337

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES - RETAIL LICENSES

     Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Lombardi, Archambault, and Ruggerio

     Date Introduced: March 08, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

Licenses" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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

distilled spirit samplings inside licensed premises. -- Any holder of a Class A retail license

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

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

and distilled spirits available for purchase from the licensee's outlet. These samples shall not

exceed one ounce servings of each wine, the number of wines being limited to no more than four

(4) products at any one tasting and one ounce serving of each beer with the number of beer

samplings being limited to two (2) products at any one tasting and one quarter ounce serving (1/4

oz) of each distilled spirit, the number of distilled spirits being limited to no more than two (2)

products at any one tasting. Furthermore, wine, beer and distilled spirits samplings may not be

conducted simultaneously on the same Class A licensed premise. Each consumer shall be limited

to no more than one sample tasting of each product. The licensee may elect on four (4) occasions

annually to serve unlimited samples of wine products available for purchase from the licensee's

outlet.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

training provider of alcoholic beverage service.

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

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

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

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

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

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES - RETAIL LICENSES

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     This act would permit class A liquor retail license holders to elect on four (4) occasions

annually to serve unlimited samples of wine products which are available for purchase from the

licensee's outlet.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC005337

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