2017 -- S 0903 SUBSTITUTE A

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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: 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:

     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

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

one tasting; and one-quarter-ounce servings (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 one occasion annually, once during the month of March,

and once during the month of November only, 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-day (30) 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 amend the number of occasions upon which a Class A license holder

under this chapter may dispense unlimited samples of wine products.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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