2023 -- H 5232

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LC000636

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- MANUFACTURING AND WHOLESALE

LICENSES

     Introduced By: Representatives Kazarian, McEntee, Henries, Dawson, Costantino,
Boylan, Casimiro, and Noret

     Date Introduced: January 25, 2023

     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 forty-eight ounces (48 oz.) of malt beverage

or four and one-half ounces (4.5 oz.) of distilled spirits, or fifteen ounces (15 oz.) of wine per

visitor, per day, or a combination not greater than three (3) drinks where a drink is defined as up to

sixteen ounces (16 oz.) of beer or one and one-half ounces (1.5 oz.) of spirits, or five ounces (5 oz.)

of wine for consumption on the premises. The license also authorizes the sale of beverages

produced on the premises in an amount not in excess of forty-eight (48) twelve-ounce (12 oz.)

bottles or cans or forty-eight (48) sixteen-ounce (16 oz.) bottles or cans of malt beverages, or one

thousand five hundred milliliters (1,500 ml) of distilled spirits per visitor, or three (3) seven hundred

fifty milliliter (750 ml) bottles of wine or the equivalent amount of wine sold by the can or other

container, 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. All manufacturer licenses

conducting retail sales or providing samples shall be subject to compliance with alcohol server

training and liquor liability insurance requirements set forth in §§ 3-7-6.1 and 3-7-29 and the

regulations promulgated thereunder.

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

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

for a distillery producing less than or equal to fifty thousand gallons (50,000 gal.) 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 gallons (50,000 gal.) per year and five hundred dollars ($500)

per year for a winery producing less than fifty thousand gallons (50,000 gal.) 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

***

     This act would authorize manufacturer-wineries to sell three (3) drinks of wine for

consumption on premises per visitor per day, where a drink is defined as five ounces (5 oz.) of

wine. Additionally, this act would authorize a manufacturer-winery to sell up to three (3) seven

hundred fifty milliliter (750 ml) bottles of wine produced on the premises to be sold for off-premises

consumption.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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