2024 -- S 2786

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LC005618

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- MANUFACTURING AND WHOLESALE

LICENSES

     Introduced By: Senators Murray, Lauria, Ujifusa, Euer, Felag, Acosta, McKenney, and
Kallman

     Date Introduced: March 08, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 3-6-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 3-6 entitled "Manufacturing

and Wholesale Licenses" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     3-6-1. Manufacturer’s license.

     (a)(1) A manufacturer’s license authorizes the holder to establish and operate a brewery,

distillery, or winery at the place described in the license for the manufacture of beverages within

this state. The license does not authorize more than one of the activities of operator of a brewery or

distillery or winery and a separate license shall be required for each plant.

     (2) Notwithstanding the foregoing, a manufacturer license holder may hold a satellite

taproom permit. For the purposes of this section, "satellite taproom" means a space that:

     (i) Is located in a suitable and permanent building;

     (ii) Is kept, used, maintained, advertised and held out to the public to be a place where

alcoholic liquor is served at retail for consumption on the premises;

     (iii) At all times has employed therein an adequate number of employees;

     (iv) Does not include public sleeping accommodations or production equipment for the

manufacturing of beverages; and

     (v) Need not necessarily have a dining room or kitchen.

     (3) A satellite taproom permit shall allow the retail sale of alcoholic liquor manufactured

in this state to be consumed on the premises of up to two (2) satellite taprooms per manufacturer's

license. Each satellite taproom shall conform to all local zoning and fire safety requirements and

shall be required to hold a local liquor license. The annual fee for each permit shall be three hundred

dollars ($300).

     (b) The license also authorizes the sale at wholesale, at the licensed place by the

manufacturer of the product of the licensed plant, to another license holder and the transportation

and delivery from the place of sale to a licensed place, a satellite taproom or to a common carrier

for that delivery. The license does authorize the sale of beverages for consumption on premises

where sold; provided that the manufacturer does not sell an amount in excess of forty-eight ounces

(48 oz.) of malt beverage or four and one-half ounces (4.5 oz.) of distilled spirits per visitor, per

day, or a combination not greater than three (3) drinks where a drink is defined as up to sixteen

ounces (16 oz.) of beer or one and one-half ounces (1.5 oz.) of spirits, for consumption on the

premises. The license also authorizes the sale of beverages produced on the premises in an amount

not in excess of forty-eight (48) twelve-ounce (12 oz.) bottles or cans or forty-eight (48) sixteen-

ounce (16 oz.) bottles or cans of malt beverages, or one thousand five hundred milliliters (1,500

ml) of distilled spirits per visitor, per day, to be sold in containers that may hold no more than

seventy-two ounces (72 oz.) each. These beverages may be sold to the consumers for off-premises

consumption, and shall be sold pursuant to the laws governing retail Class A establishments. The

containers for the sale of beverages for off-premises consumption shall be sealed. The license does

not authorize the sale of beverages in this state for delivery outside this state in violation of the law

of the place of delivery. The license holder may provide to visitors, in conjunction with a tour or

tasting, samples, clearly marked as samples, not to exceed three hundred seventy-five milliliters

(375 ml) per visitor for distilled spirits and seventy-two ounces (72 oz.) per visitor for malt

beverages at the licensed plant by the manufacturer of the product of the licensed plant to visitors

for off-premises consumption. The license does not authorize providing samples to a visitor of any

alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption that are not manufactured at the licensed plant.

All manufacturer licenses conducting retail sales or providing samples shall be subject to

compliance with alcohol server training and liquor liability insurance requirements set forth in §§

3-7-6.1 and 3-7-29 and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

     (c) The annual fee for the license is three thousand dollars ($3,000) for a distillery

producing more than fifty thousand gallons (50,000 gal.) per year and five hundred dollars ($500)

for a distillery producing less than or equal to fifty thousand gallons (50,000 gal.) per year; five

hundred dollars ($500) for a brewery; and one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) for a winery

producing more than fifty thousand gallons (50,000 gal.) per year and five hundred dollars ($500)

per year for a winery producing less than fifty thousand gallons (50,000 gal.) per year. All those

LC005618 - Page 2 of 4

fees are prorated to the year ending December 1 in every calendar year and shall be paid to the

general treasurer for the use of the state.

     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 -- MANUFACTURING AND WHOLESALE

LICENSES

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     This act would allow the holder of a manufacturer’s license to apply for two (2) satellite

taprooms located off the premises of the manufacturer and allow the manufacturer to transport beer,

spirits or wine to the satellite taprooms.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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