Chapter 318

2008 -- H 8127

Enacted 07/05/08

 

A N A C T

RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES

          

     Introduced By: Representatives E Coderre, Kilmartin, O`Neill, Rose, and Dennigan

     Date Introduced: April 08, 2008

 

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

 

     SECTION 1. Section 3-7-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 3-7 entitled "Retail Licenses"

is hereby amended to read as follows:

 

     3-7-7. Class B license. -- (a) (1) A retailer's Class B license is issued only to a licensed

bona fide tavern keeper or victualer whose tavern or victualing house may be open for business

and regularly patronized at least from nine o'clock (9:00) a.m. to seven o'clock (7:00) p.m.

provided no beverage is sold or served after one o'clock (1:00) a.m., nor before six o'clock (6:00)

a.m. Local licensing boards may fix an earlier closing time within their jurisdiction, at their

discretion. The East Greenwich town council may, in its discretion, issue full and limited Class B

licenses which may not be transferred, but which shall revert to the town of East Greenwich if not

renewed by the holder.

     The Pawtucket city council may, in its discretion, issue full and limited Class B licenses

which may not be transferred to another person or entity, or to another location, but which shall

revert to the city of Pawtucket if not renewed by the holder. This legislation shall not affect any

Class B license holders whose licenses were issued by the Pawtucket city council with the right to

transfer.

      (2) The license authorizes the holder to keep for sale and sell beverages including beer in

cans, at retail at the place described and to deliver them for consumption on the premises or place

where sold, but only at tables or a lunch bar where food is served. It also authorizes the charging

of a cover, minimum, or door charge. The amount of the cover, or minimum, or door charge is

posted at the entrance of the establishments in a prominent place.

      (3) Holders of licenses are not permitted to hold dances within the licensed premises,

unless proper permits have been properly obtained from the local licensing authorities.

      (4) Any holder of a Class B license may, upon the approval of the local licensing board

and for the additional payment of two hundred dollars ($200) to five hundred dollars ($500), open

for business at twelve o'clock (12:00) p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays and the night before

legal state holidays may close at two o'clock (2:00) a.m. All requests for a two o'clock (2:00) a.m.

license shall be advertised by the local licensing board in a newspaper having a circulation in the

county where the establishment applying for the license is located.

      (5) A holder of a retailer's Class B license is allowed to erect signs advertising his or her

business and products sold on the premises, including neon signs, and is allowed to light those

signs during all lawful business hours, including Sundays and holidays.

      (b) The annual license fee for a tavern keeper shall be four hundred dollars ($400) to two

thousand dollars ($2,000), and for a victualer the license fee shall be four hundred dollars ($400)

to two thousand dollars ($2,000). In towns with a population of less than two thousand five

hundred (2,500) inhabitants, as determined by the last census taken under the authority of the

United States or the state, the fee for each retailer's Class B license shall be determined by the

town council, but shall in no case be less than three hundred dollars ($300) annually. If the

applicant requests it in his or her application, any retailer's Class B license may be issued limiting

the sale of beverages on the licensed premises to malt and vinous beverages containing not more

than twenty percent (20%) alcohol by volume, and the fee for that limited Class B license shall be

two hundred dollars ($200) to one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) annually. The fee for

any Class B license shall in each case be prorated to the year ending December 1 in every

calendar year.

 

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

     

=======

LC02660

=======