2020 -- H 7891

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LC004976

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- MANUFACTURING AND WHOLESALE

LICENSES

     Introduced By: Representatives Barros, Tobon, Alzate, Handy, and Messier

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2020

     Referred To: House Small Business

     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.) two ounces (2 oz.) of spirits or two ounces (2 oz.) of primary spirits in a

cocktail, where primary is defined as the majority spirit by volume, for consumption on the

premises. The license also authorizes the sale of beverages produced on the premises in an amount

not in excess of 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 twelve (12) seven hundred fifty milliliters

milliliter (750 ml) bottles or twenty-four (24) three hundred seventy-five milliliter (375 ml) bottles

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 -- MANUFACTURING AND WHOLESALE

LICENSES

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     This act would allow a manufacturer's license holder to authorize the sale of beverages for

consumption on premises sold in a combination not to be greater than three (3) drinks. This act

would define a drink as two ounces (2 oz) of spirits or two ounces (2 oz) of primary spirits, where

primary is defined as the majority spirit by volume. This act would also allow the manufacturer's

license holder to sell twelve (12) seven hundred fifty milliliter (750 ml) bottles or twenty-four (24)

three hundred and seventy five milliliter (375 ml) bottles of distilled spirits per visitor, per day, to

be sold in containers.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC004976

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