2021 -- S 0142

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LC000984

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- REGULATION OF SALES

     Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Ciccone, Pearson, and Sosnowski

     Date Introduced: January 26, 2021

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 3-8-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 3-8 entitled "Regulation of

Sales" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     3-8-1. Sales on Sundays and holidays -- Sales to underage persons, intoxicated

persons, and persons of intemperate habits.

     Licenses issued under this title shall not authorize the sale or service of beverages on

Sunday, nor on Christmas day excepting licensed taverns, clubs, victualing houses, and retail Class

F licensed places when served with food to guests, and except in places operated under a retail

Class E license described in this title, and excepting the sale of wine or winery products at retail

pursuant to § 3-6-1.1(e)(4) by holders of farmer-winery licenses and the serving of complimentary

samples pursuant to § 3-6-1.1(g) by holders of farmer-winery licenses, except in cars or on

passenger-carrying marine vessels operated by holders of Class G licenses, and except as otherwise

provided herein. The department may limit the sale of beverages on passenger-carrying marine

vessels to the hours from twelve o'clock (12:00) p.m. to six o'clock (6:00) p.m. on those days; nor

shall they authorize the sale or delivery to any underaged person as defined in this title for purposes

of sale, possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages, either for his or her own use or for the

use of his or her parents, or of any other person; or the sale of beverages to any intoxicated persons

or to any person of notoriously intemperate habits. Places operating under a retail Class C license

are authorized to be open for the sale of alcoholic beverages upon Columbus day, Armistice day,

Victory day, provided however, that a local board of license may authorize places operating under

a Class C license to be open on New Year's day. A Class C licensee may serve beverages on Sunday

with the written approval of the local board of license, subject to the notice provisions of § 3-5-17.

Places operating under a retail Class A license are not authorized to be open for the sale of alcoholic

beverages upon Thanksgiving day and New Year's day. Provided, however, that holders of Class

A licenses may open from no earlier than ten o'clock (10:00) a.m. to no later than six o'clock (6:00)

p.m. on Sundays, unless the following Monday is a holiday, in which event the holders may remain

open no later than nine o'clock (9:00) p.m. the prior Sunday.

     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 -- REGULATION OF SALES

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     This act would allow the sale of alcoholic beverages on New Year's Day by retail Class A

licensees.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC000984

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