Chapter 384
2017 -- H 6255 SUBSTITUTE A
Enacted 10/03/2017

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

Introduced By: Representatives O'Brien, Marshall, Slater, Serpa, and Lima
Date Introduced: May 26, 2017

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, once during the month of March,
and once 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-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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LC002770/SUB A
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