Chapter 460

2013 -- S 0477

Enacted 07/16/13

A N A C T

RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES - RETAIL LICENSES

Introduced By: Senator Maryellen Goodwin

Date Introduced: February 28, 2013

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 3-7-4.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 3-7 entitled "Retail

Licenses" is hereby amended to read as follows:

3-7-4.1. Holders of retail Class A licenses permitted to conduct wine and beer

samplings inside licensed premises Holders of retail Class A licenses permitted to conduct

wine, beer, and distilled spirit samplings inside licensed premises. -- Any holder of a Class A

retail license shall be permitted to conduct at no charge to the consumer, inside the premises of

the licensee, sample tastings of wine (under 13% alcohol by volume), and beer (under 5.5%

alcohol by volume) and distilled spirits available for purchase from the licensee's outlet. These

samples shall not exceed one ounce servings of each wine, the number of wines being limited to

no more than four (4) products at any one tasting and one ounce serving of each beer with the

number of beer samplings being limited to two (2) products at any one tasting and one quarter

ounce serving (1/4 oz) of each distilled spirit, the number of distilled spirits being limited to no

more than two (2) products at any one tasting. Furthermore, wine, and beer and distilled spirits

samplings may not be conducted simultaneously on the same Class A licensed premise. Each

consumer shall be limited to no more than one sample tasting of each product.

      It shall be required that the licensee provide, at no charge to the consumer, food

samplings to be included with the tasting of all wine and beer. Those food samplings not

consumed during the tasting shall not thereafter be offered for sale.

      The licensee shall control, without wholesaler or supplier participation, the dispensing of

all samples to prospective customers. The licensee may not hold more than ten (10) tasting events

in any thirty (30) day period. It shall be required that the licensee provide to the dispenser(s) of

said wine and beer samples, training in the service of alcoholic beverages by a recognized

training provider of alcoholic beverage service.

      Sampling events may not be promoted except on the licensed premises. It shall be

unlawful for any wholesaler, manufacturer, supplier or any other person or entity to participate or

provide anything or any service of value on account of or in conjunction with any such sampling.

It shall be unlawful for any tasting or combination of tastings to exceed more than four (4) hours

from start to finish and must be conducted during the normal hours of business.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

=======

LC01893

=======