Chapter 020
2016 -- S 2772
Enacted 05/19/2016

A N   A C T
RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES

Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Ruggerio, Walaska, P Fogarty, and Lombardo
Date Introduced: March 10, 2016

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, 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), 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 servings of each beer, with the number of beer
samplings being limited to two (2) products at any one tasting; and one-quarter-ounce servings
(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, 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. The licensee may elect on one
occasion annually, during the month of November only, to serve unlimited samples of wine
products available for purchase from the licensee's outlet.
      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 (30) 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.
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LC005426
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