2019 -- S 0380

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LC001397

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES - RETAIL LICENSES

     Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Conley, Goodwin, and Ciccone

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

is hereby amended to read as follows:

     3-7-3. Class A license -- Towns and cities of 10,000 or more.

     (a) In cities and towns having a population of ten thousand (10,000) or more inhabitants,

a retailer's Class A license authorizes the holder to keep for sale and to sell, at the place

described, beverages at retail and to deliver the beverages in a sealed package or container, which

package or container shall not be opened nor its contents consumed on the premises where sold.

The holder of a Class A license, if other than a person entitled to retail, compound, and dispense

medicines and poisons, shall not on the licensed premises engage in any other business, keep for

sale or sell any goods, wares, merchandise or any other article or thing except the beverages

authorized under this license and nonalcoholic beverages. This provision shall not apply to the

sale or selling of cigarettes, newspapers, cigars, cigarette lighters, gift bags, prepackaged cheeses,

prepackaged peanuts, pretzels, chips, olives, onions, cherries, hot stuffed cherry peppers, Slim

Jims and similar pre-packaged dried meat products, pickled eggs, popcorn, pre-packaged candy,

styrofoam cooler, lemons, limes, and ice, nor to home bar accessories such as pourers, glasses,

cork screws, stirrers, flasks, jiggers, wine racks, ice crushers, bottle openers, can openers and any

other items of like nature which may, by suitable regulation of the director of business regulation,

be authorized to be sold. A holder of a Class A license will not be prohibited from providing

ATM machines to the general public for use on its licensed premises. This section shall not apply

to promotional free goods which are subject to approval by the director. In the city of Newport

this license may be issued to any person, firm or corporation who are owners of bona fide markets

for the sale of alcoholic beverages in conjunction with and in addition to the sale of meats or

groceries in those bona fide markets. A person, firm or corporation in that city may obtain a

limited Class A license to sell beer, lager and ale on the same premises as other goods, wares,

merchandise and articles are sold. No Class A license is granted for any premises unless the

premises constitute a separate store, the entrance or entrances to which shall be exclusively from

the street or streets or arcade. This provision shall not apply to any person, firm or corporation in

the city of Newport who are owners of bona fide markets for the sale of alcoholic beverages in

conjunction with and in addition to the sale of meats or groceries in those bona fide markets and

as long as the market is owned and operated by the mother, father, son, daughter, brother or sister

of the original licensee, but not otherwise.

     (b) The premises shall have opaque walls which shall completely partition and sever the

premises from any adjoining market, concession or business. This provision shall not be

construed to limit the powers of the department to issue licenses on condition nor to make rules

and regulations as provided. The annual fee for a Class A license is five hundred dollars ($500) to

one thousand dollars ($1,000) prorated to the year ending December 1st in every calendar year.

     (c) Any licenses issued under the provisions of this section prior to May 8, 1964 remains

in full force and effect.

     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 add prepackaged cheeses to the items allowed for sale at Class A license

holders premises in towns or cities of ten thousand (10,000) or more inhabitants.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001397

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