2017 -- S 0815

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LC002335

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES - RETAIL LICENSES

     Introduced By: Senator Gayle L. Goldin

     Date Introduced: April 25, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 3-7-14.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 3-7 entitled "Retail

Licenses" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     3-7-14.2. Class P licenses -- Caterers.

     (a) A caterer licensed by the department of health and the division of taxation shall be

eligible to apply for a Class P license from the department of business regulation. The department

of business regulation is authorized to issue all caterers' licenses. The license will be valid

throughout this state as a state license and no further license will be required or tax imposed by

any city or town upon this alcoholic beverage privilege. Each caterer to which the license is

issued shall pay to the department of business regulation an annual fee of five hundred dollars

($500) for the license, and one dollar ($1.00) for each duplicate of the license, which fees are paid

into the state treasury. The department is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations for

implementation of this license. In promulgating said rules, the department shall include, but is not

limited to, the following standards:

     (1) Proper identification will be required for individuals who look thirty (30) years old or

younger and who are ordering alcoholic beverages;

     (2) Only valid ID's as defined by these titles are acceptable;

     (3) An individual may not be served more than two (2) drinks at a time;

     (4) Licensee's, their agents, or employees will not serve visibly intoxicated individuals;

     (5) Licensee's may only serve alcoholic beverages for no more than a five (5) hour period

per event;, provided that no alcoholic beverage is sold or served after one o'clock (1:00) a.m., nor

before six o'clock (6:00) a.m., and provided further that a licensee may serve until two o'clock

(2:00) a.m. upon application and approval of the appropriate licensing authority, including the

city or town council or board or bureau of licenses, of the municipality where the event shall take

place. The local city or town council or bureau or board of licenses shall have the sole discretion

of whether to extend the time for sale or service of alcoholic beverages;

     (6) Only a licensee, or its employees, may serve alcoholic beverages at the event;

     (7) The licensee will deliver and remove alcoholic beverages to the event; and

     (8) No shots or triple alcoholic drinks will be served.

     (b) Any bartender employed by the licensee shall be certified by a nationally recognized

alcohol beverage server training program.

     (c) The licensee shall purchase at retail all alcoholic beverages from a licensed Class A

alcohol retail establishment located in the state, provided, however, any licensee who also holds a

Class T license, issued pursuant to the provisions of § 3-7-7, shall be allowed to purchase

alcoholic beverages at wholesale. Any person violating this section shall be fined five hundred

dollars ($500) for this violation and shall be subject to license revocation. The provisions of this

section shall be enforced in accordance with this title.

     (d) Violation of subsection (a) of this section is punishable upon conviction by a fine of

not more than five hundred dollars ($500) and/or a suspension or revocation of the Class P

license. Fines imposed under this section shall be paid to the department of business regulation.

     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

***

     This act would create additional restrictions on the times for which caterers with a Class

P license may serve alcohol and provides for the additional penalty of possible suspension or

revocation of license for violations of this section.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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