2026 -- H 7493

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LC004764

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- MANUFACTURING AND WHOLESALE

LICENSES

     Introduced By: Representatives McEntee, Caldwell, Shallcross Smith, Voas, Cortvriend,
Cotter, McGaw, DeSimone, Speakman, and Carson

     Date Introduced: February 04, 2026

     Referred To: House Small Business

     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) 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.

     (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 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, or fifteen ounces (15 oz.) of wine 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.) or five ounces (5 oz.) of wine

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 an

amount not in excess of seven hundred sixty-eight fluids ounces (768 fl. oz.) in any vessel or one

thousand five hundred milliliters (1,500 ml) of distilled spirits per visitor, or three (3) seven hundred

fifty milliliter (750 ml) bottles of wine or the equivalent amount of wine sold by the can or other

container, 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

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.

     (d) Notwithstanding § 3-7-18 and any other provision of the law to the contrary, a holder

of a manufacturer’s license for a brewery, whether located within or outside this state, if authorized

by the department of business regulation, may sell, transport, deliver, and distribute malt beverages

of its own manufacture directly to retailers licensed under this title within this state without using

a licensed Rhode Island wholesaler, subject to the following requirements:

     (1) If, in any calendar year, a brewery manufacturer:

     (i) Self-distributes five thousand (5,000) barrels or more within the state; or

     (ii) Has a total annual production of eight thousand (8,000) barrels or more, then the

brewery manufacturer shall, within thirty (30) days after meeting the applicable threshold either

LC004764 - Page 2 of 4

enter into a written agreement for distribution within this state with a wholesaler licensed in Rhode

Island pursuant to this title or cease further self-distribution within this state for the remainder of

that calendar year, except that the brewery manufacturer may complete delivery of orders invoiced

prior to the date the threshold was met, for a period not to exceed fifteen (15) days. Any written

agreement pursuant to this subsection shall be consistent with chapter 3 of title 3, negotiated in

good faith and may include terms governing the grant, purchase, transfer, or other conveyance of

the brewery manufacturer’s Rhode Island distribution rights for one or more brands of malt

beverages.

     (2) A brewery manufacturer exercising self-distribution pursuant to the provisions of

subsection (d)(1) of this section shall register with the department prior to commencing self-

distribution in a manner prescribed by the department and maintain complete and accurate books

and records of all self-distributed sales into this state, including invoices and delivery records, for

not less than three (3) years and enter into, maintain, and abide by the terms of a labor peace

agreement as defined in § 21-28.11-12.2.

     (e) Subject to city or town approval for a liquor license, a holder of a manufacturer’s license

for a brewery is authorized to have one additional location for the retail sale of alcoholic liquor

manufactured in the state to be consumed on and off the premises pursuant to the provisions of this

chapter.

     (f) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a holder of a manufacturer’s

license issued pursuant to this section may purchase from a duly licensed Rhode Island wholesaler,

for resale at retail for consumption on the premises only, alcoholic beverages that are manufactured

in this state by a manufacturer licensed under this title; provided that, any alcoholic beverages

purchased for resale pursuant to this subsection shall be invoiced by, and delivered from, a Rhode

Island wholesaler licensed under this title and alcoholic beverages resold pursuant to this subsection

shall be limited to malt beverages, wine, and distilled spirits that are manufactured in Rhode Island.

     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 a holder of a manufacturer’s license for a brewery, whether located

within or outside this state, to sell, transport, deliver, and distribute malt beverages of its own

manufacture directly to retailers within this state without using a licensed Rhode Island wholesaler.

This act would also allow the holder of a manufacturer’s license for a brewery to have one

additional location for the retail sale of alcoholic liquor manufactured in the state to be consumed

on and off the premises.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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