Bill > SB033

This bill prohibits the issuance of new liquor-licensed drugstore licenses in Colorado, effectively freezing the number of such licenses at current levels. The bill defines an "independent pharmacy" as a prescription drug outlet privately owned by at least one licensed pharmacist with no ownership interest by or affiliation with a chain or publicly owned pharmacy. It limits the total number of liquor-licensed drugstore licenses to no more than eight and prevents the merger, sale, transfer, conversion, or location change of these licenses, with a narrow exception for independent pharmacies licensed before January 1, 2025. For renewal of existing licenses issued after January 1, 2017, drugstores must demonstrate that at least 20% of their gross annual income comes from food item sales and keep their premises open to the public. The legislation aims to regulate the proliferation of liquor sales in drugstores and protect the interests of independent pharmacies and existing retail liquor stores by limiting the expansion of liquor-licensed drugstore licenses.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-033