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:

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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 or

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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. The

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

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the manufacturer does not sell an amount in excess of forty-eight ounces (48 oz.) of malt beverage

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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container, per day, to be sold in containers that may hold no more than seventy-two ounces (72 oz.)

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each. These beverages may be sold to the consumers for off-premises consumption, and shall be

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sold pursuant to the laws governing retail Class A establishments. The containers for the sale of

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beverages for off-premises consumption shall be sealed. The license does not authorize the sale of

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beverages in this state for delivery outside this state in violation of the law of the place of delivery.

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The license holder may provide to visitors, in conjunction with a tour or tasting, samples, clearly

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marked as samples, not to exceed three hundred seventy-five milliliters (375 ml) per visitor for

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

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

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The 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. All manufacturer licenses

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

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

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regulations promulgated thereunder.

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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 gallons (50,000 gal.) per year and five hundred dollars ($500)

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

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hundred 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 gallons (50,000 gal.) per year and five hundred dollars ($500)

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

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

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general 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 -- MANUFACTURING AND WHOLESALE

LICENSES

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

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

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

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

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consumption.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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