2017 -- S 0903 SUBSTITUTE A

========

LC002666/SUB A

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES

     

     Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Pearson, Lombardi, and Lombardo

     Date Introduced: May 11, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1

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

2

Licenses" is hereby amended to read as follows:

3

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

4

distilled spirit samplings inside licensed premises.

5

     Any holder of a Class A retail license shall be permitted to conduct at no charge to the

6

consumer, inside the premises of the licensee, sample tastings of wine (under 13% alcohol by

7

volume), beer (under 5.5% alcohol by volume), and distilled spirits available for purchase from

8

the licensee's outlet. These samples shall not exceed one-ounce servings of each wine, the number

9

of wines being limited to no more than four (4) products at any one tasting; and one-ounce

10

servings of each beer, with the number of beer samplings being limited to two (2) products at any

11

one tasting; and one-quarter-ounce servings (1/4 oz) of each distilled spirit, the number of

12

distilled spirits being limited to no more than two (2) products at any one tasting. Furthermore,

13

wine, beer, and distilled spirits samplings may not be conducted simultaneously on the same

14

Class A licensed premise. Each consumer shall be limited to no more than one sample tasting of

15

each product. The licensee may elect on one occasion annually, once during the month of March,

16

and once during the month of November only, to serve unlimited samples of wine products

17

available for purchase from the licensee's outlet.

18

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

19

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

 

1

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

2

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

3

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

4

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

5

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

6

training provider of alcoholic beverage service.

7

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

8

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

9

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

10

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

11

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

12

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC002666/SUB A

========

 

LC002666/SUB A - Page 2 of 2

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES

***

1

     This act would amend the number of occasions upon which a Class A license holder

2

under this chapter may dispense unlimited samples of wine products.

3

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC002666/SUB A

========

 

LC002666/SUB A - Page 3 of 2