Bill > S476

Introduced Session

Currently, the law prohibits any person or corporate entity from holding more than two retail licenses to sell alcoholic beverages. The bill allows licensees to hold more than two plenary retail distribution licenses when the license or licenses are used only for the sale of beer and wine, and in connection with the operation of a food store, or in connection with the operation of a liquor store when the licensee certifies that at least 90 percent of the stores inventory is to be beer and wine. The bill stipulates that a licensee who acquires additional plenary retail distribution licenses is prohibited from acquiring or owning all or part of an interest in more than 10 percent of all plenary retail distribution licenses issued in this State. The bill also prohibits the acquisition of an additional plenary retail distribution license or licenses for use in connection with a food or liquor store located in any municipality wherein an urban enterprise zone is designated. Further, the bill sets certain safeguards against underage drinking by requiring that food stores sell beer and wine in a separate premise that is situated directly adjacent to the food store, and prohibits food stores from selling beer and wine on the floor area where groceries or other food stuffs are sold. The bill requires that areas designated for selling beer and wine have a separate entrance and exit, but allows for a doorway that leads directly to and from the food store floor area. A separate cash register that is programmed to remind the cashier to request that a purchaser show proper identification is also required under the bill. The bill provides that food stores which sold alcoholic beverages prior to the enactment of the bill would still be able to sell alcoholic beverages in the food store floor area. Finally, the bill specifies that licensees who acquire additional plenary retail distribution licenses are required to pay a license transfer fee on each license that they acquire. The transfer fee is set at 10 percent of the amount that the licensee paid for the license and is payable to the local police department of the municipality in which the licensed premises is located, or if the municipality does not have a local police department, to the Superintendent of State Police. The amount paid by the licensee to the local police department or to the Superintendent of State Police is to be used to enforce the intoxicated driving statutes and for law enforcement initiatives to prevent underage drinking.

AI Summary

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Raymond Lesniak (D)*, 

Withdrawn from Consideration (on 03/11/2010)