2019 -- H 5473

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LC001479

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES - RETAIL LICENSES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Costantino, Vella-Wilkinson, Lima, Marshall, and
Shekarchi

     Date Introduced: February 14, 2019

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     3-7-3. Class A license -- Towns and cities of 10,000 or more.

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     (a) In cities and towns having a population of ten thousand (10,000) or more inhabitants,

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a retailer's Class A license authorizes the holder to keep for sale and to sell, at the place

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described, beverages at retail and to deliver the beverages in a sealed package or container, which

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package or container shall not be opened nor its contents consumed on the premises where sold.

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The holder of a Class A license, if other than a person entitled to retail, compound, and dispense

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medicines and poisons, shall not on the licensed premises engage in any other business, keep for

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sale or sell any goods, wares, merchandise or any other article or thing except the beverages

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authorized under this license and nonalcoholic beverages. This provision shall not apply to the

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sale or selling of cigarettes, newspapers, cigars, cigarette lighters, gift bags, prepackaged cheeses,

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prepackaged peanuts, pretzels, chips, olives, onions, cherries, hot stuffed cherry peppers, Slim

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Jims and similar pre-packaged dried meat products, pickled eggs, popcorn, pre-packaged candy,

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styrofoam cooler, lemons, limes, and ice, nor to home bar accessories such as pourers, glasses,

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cork screws, stirrers, flasks, jiggers, wine racks, ice crushers, bottle openers, can openers and any

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other items of like nature which may, by suitable regulation of the director of business regulation,

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be authorized to be sold. A holder of a Class A license will not be prohibited from providing

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ATM machines to the general public for use on its licensed premises. This section shall not apply

 

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to promotional free goods which are subject to approval by the director. In the city of Newport

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this license may be issued to any person, firm or corporation who are owners of bona fide markets

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for the sale of alcoholic beverages in conjunction with and in addition to the sale of meats or

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groceries in those bona fide markets. A person, firm or corporation in that city may obtain a

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limited Class A license to sell beer, lager and ale on the same premises as other goods, wares,

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merchandise and articles are sold. No Class A license is granted for any premises unless the

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premises constitute a separate store, the entrance or entrances to which shall be exclusively from

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the street or streets or arcade. This provision shall not apply to any person, firm or corporation in

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the city of Newport who are owners of bona fide markets for the sale of alcoholic beverages in

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conjunction with and in addition to the sale of meats or groceries in those bona fide markets and

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as long as the market is owned and operated by the mother, father, son, daughter, brother or sister

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of the original licensee, but not otherwise.

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     (b) The premises shall have opaque walls which shall completely partition and sever the

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premises from any adjoining market, concession or business. This provision shall not be

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construed to limit the powers of the department to issue licenses on condition nor to make rules

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and regulations as provided. The annual fee for a Class A license is five hundred dollars ($500) to

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one thousand dollars ($1,000) prorated to the year ending December 1st in every calendar year.

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     (c) Any licenses issued under the provisions of this section prior to May 8, 1964 remains

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in full force and effect.

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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 - RETAIL LICENSES

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     This act would add prepackaged cheeses to the items allowed for sale at Class A license

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holders premises in towns or cities of ten thousand (10,000) or more inhabitants.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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