Bill > S1356

Introduced Session

This bill amends current law to authorize certain activities in which a holder of a limited brewery license is permitted to engage. Specifically, this bill authorizes the holder of a limited brewery license to engage in activities which include, but are not limited to including: (1) an unlimited number of on-premises special events, for which the license holder may sell tickets without requiring the license holder to obtain a permit or provide electronic notification to the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), and (2) up to 18 off-premises special events per year pursuant to a permit issued by the director of the ABC for each event. If an event is to be held on a publicly-owned or controlled property, the licensee would be required to obtain consent from the political subdivision that owns or controls the property or the chief law enforcement officer of the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the property. Under the bill, a license holder also is permitted to deliver its product to a consumer's home; sell soda and coffee, whether or not manufactured by the license holder; coordinate with a food vendor to provide food on the licensed premises; and provide menus to consumers. In addition, the bill eliminates the requirement that the license holder provide a tour to a consumer prior to serving alcoholic beverages for consumption on the licensed premises. The bill further provides that pourers and servers employed by the licensed brewery are not required to be certified by an industry-recognized server training program. The bill defines "on-premises special event" to mean an event that is open to the public and held on the licensed premises or the sidewalk, parking lot, or other area owned by the license holder that is adjacent to or adjoining the licensed premises and includes, but is not limited to: private parties such as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, civic and political functions, professional and trade association events, class reunion and alumni events; trivia and quiz games; paint and sip; craftmaking; pop up shops; DJs, live music, and open mic; televised or streamed sporting events; educational events and seminars; movies and theatrical events; animal adoption, to the extent permitted by local ordinance; and yoga and other exercise classes. "Off-premises special events" are defined as special events that take place at a location other than on the licensed premises or the sidewalk, parking lot, or other area owned by the license holder that is adjacent to or adjoining the licensed premises and include, but are not limited to: beer, music, and arts festivals; civic events; foot races, mud races, bike races and other athletic events; limited brewery anniversary celebrations; and holiday celebrations. The bill also establishes a winery-brewery sublicense that would permit wineries to produce malt alcoholic beverages for retail sale to consumers for consumption off the licensed premises and establishes a farm brewery license that would permit the licensee to produce malt alcoholic beverages for retail sale to consumers for consumption off the licensed premises. A farm brewery would operate in much the same manner as a farm winery, using locally grown farm products in brewing malt beverages which would be sold at the farm. A licensee would be required to be actively engaged in farming on or adjacent to the brewery site and to be actively cultivating hops or other products used in the production of the malt alcoholic beverages. A farm brewery licensee would be permitted to brew up to 2,000 barrels of malt alcoholic beverages per year for retail sale for consumption off the premises and to offer samples. A graduated license based on volume would range in cost from $100 to $300 annually. A single individual or entity would be permitted to hold only one farm brewery license. The winery-brewery sublicense established by the bill would be available to plenary and farm winery licensees, provided they are actively engaged in farming on or adjacent to the winery premises and are growing and cultivating hops or another product used in the production of the malt alcoholic beverages. Under the provisions of the bill, the holder of a winery-brewery sublicense would be permitted to brew up to 3,000 barrels of malt beverages per year and to sell this product at retail for off premises consumption and to offer samples. The bill does not authorize a licensee to sell any malt alcoholic beverages to wholesalers and retailers. The annual fee for this sublicense would be $750. A winery-brewery licensee would be permitted to hold only one sublicense under the bill.

Committee Categories

Mike Testa (R)*,  Shirley Turner (D),  Andrew Zwicker (D), 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document