2019 -- S 0620

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LC002168

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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

     Introduced By: Senators Felag, Seveney, Sosnowski, Conley, and Gallo

     Date Introduced: March 14, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 3-6-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 3-6 entitled "Manufacturing

and Wholesale Licenses" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     3-6-1. Manufacturer's license.

     (a) A manufacturer's license authorizes the holder to establish and operate a brewery,

distillery, or winery at the place described in the license for the manufacture of beverages within

this state. The license does not authorize more than one of the activities of operator of a brewery

or distillery or winery and a separate license shall be required for each plant.

     (b) The license also authorizes the sale at wholesale, at the licensed place by the

manufacturer of the product of the licensed plant, to another license holder and the transportation

and delivery from the place of sale to a licensed place or to a common carrier for that delivery.

The license does authorize the sale of beverages for consumption on premises where sold;

provided that the manufacturer does not sell an amount in excess of thirty-six ounces (36 oz.) of

malt beverage or four and one-half ounces (4.5 oz.) of distilled spirits per visitor, per day, or a

combination not greater than three (3) drinks where a drink is defined as twelve ounces (12 oz.)

of beer or one and one-half ounces (1.5 oz.) of spirits, for consumption on the premises. The

license also authorizes the sale of beverages produced on the premises in an amount not in excess

of two hundred eighty-eight ounces (288 oz.) twenty-four (24) twelve ounce (12 oz.) bottles or

cans or twenty-four (24) sixteen ounce (16 oz.) bottles or cans of malt beverages, or seven

hundred fifty milliliters (750 ml) of distilled spirits per visitor, per day, to be sold in containers

that may hold no more than seventy-two ounces (72 oz.) each. These beverages may be sold to

the consumers for off-premises consumption, and shall be sold pursuant to the laws governing

retail Class A establishments. The containers for the sale of beverages for off-premises

consumption shall be sealed. The license does not authorize the sale of beverages in this state for

delivery outside this state in violation of the law of the place of delivery. The license holder may

provide to visitors, in conjunction with a tour or tasting, samples, clearly marked as samples, not

to exceed three hundred seventy-five milliliters (375 ml) per visitor for distilled spirits and

seventy-two ounces (72 oz.) per visitor for malt beverages at the licensed plant by the

manufacturer of the product of the licensed plant to visitors for off-premises consumption. The

license does not authorize providing samples to a visitor of any alcoholic beverages for off-

premises consumption that are not manufactured at the licensed plant.

     (c) The annual fee for the license is three thousand dollars ($3,000) for a distillery

producing more than fifty thousand (50,000) gallons per year and five hundred dollars ($500) for

a distillery producing less than or equal to fifty thousand (50,000) gallons per year; five hundred

dollars ($500) for a brewery; and one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) for a winery

producing more than fifty thousand (50,000) gallons per year and five hundred dollars ($500) per

year for a winery producing less than fifty thousand (50,000) gallons per year. All those fees are

prorated to the year ending December 1 in every calendar year and shall be paid to the general

treasurer for the use of the state.

     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

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     This act would clarify the number of ounces a manufacturer of malt beverages is allowed

to sell on their premises as twenty-four (24) twelve ounce (12 oz.) bottles or cans, or twenty-four

(24) sixteen ounce (16 oz.) bottles or cans.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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