2013 -- S 0325

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LC01297

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES

     Introduced By: Senators Hodgson, Jabour, Sosnowski, Lombardi, and Goldin

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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Licenses" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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

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samplings inside licensed premises. -- Any holder of a Class A retail license shall be permitted

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to conduct at no charge to the consumer, inside the premises of the licensee, sample tastings of

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wine (under 13% alcohol by volume) and beer (under 5.5% alcohol by volume) available for

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purchase from the licensee's outlet. These samples shall not exceed one ounce servings of each

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wine, the number of wines being limited to no more than four (4) products at any one tasting and

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one ounce serving of each beer with the number of beer samplings being limited to two (2)

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products at any one tasting. Furthermore, wine and beer samplings may not be conducted

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simultaneously on the same Class A licensed premise. Each consumer shall be limited to no more

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than one sample tasting of each product.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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training provider of alcoholic beverage service.

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

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

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

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

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

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01297

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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 provide that there be no additional charge to the consumer for food

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samplings and wine tastings and would eliminate the requirement that sampling events be

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promoted only on the licensed premises.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC01297

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