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:

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

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

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     3-6-1. Manufacturer's license.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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premises consumption that are not manufactured at the licensed plant.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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treasurer for the use of the state.

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     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

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

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

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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