Bill > SB61

This bill establishes a graduated penalty system for liquor law violations specifically in counties with a population of 500,000 or more, introducing more severe consequences for repeated infractions. Under the new provisions, when a licensee commits multiple violations of the same liquor law within twelve months, the penalties escalate: a second violation would result in a fine between $2,000 and $4,000, a third violation would incur a fine between $4,000 and $8,000, a fourth violation would trigger a one-month license suspension, and a fifth violation would lead to complete license revocation. The bill amends several sections of Hawaii's liquor laws, including provisions related to tampering with samples, refusing to provide samples, obstructing liquor commission operations, and other general liquor law violations, to incorporate these enhanced penalties. These new penalties are meant to be additional to existing penalties and are designed to encourage greater compliance with liquor regulations by imposing increasingly strict consequences for repeat offenders. The changes apply only to counties with a population of 500,000 or more, which in Hawaii would be limited to Honolulu County (on the island of Oahu).

Government Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=61&year=2026