AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- MANUFACTURING AND WHOLESALE LICENSES (Allows a brewery to sell, deliver, and distribute its own malt beverages directly to retailers without using a wholesaler. The holder of a license for a brewery may also have 1 additional location for the retail sale of alcohol.)

H7493

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:
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SECTION 1. Section 3-6-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 3-6 entitled "Manufacturing
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and Wholesale Licenses" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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3-6-1. Manufacturer’s license.
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(a) A manufacturer’s license authorizes the holder to establish and operate a brewery,
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distillery, or winery at the place described in the license for the manufacture of beverages within
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this state. The license does not authorize more than one of the activities of operator of a brewery or
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distillery or winery and a separate license shall be required for each plant.
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(b) The license also authorizes the sale at wholesale, at the licensed place by the
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manufacturer of the product of the licensed plant, to another license holder and the transportation
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and delivery from the place of sale to a licensed place or to a common carrier for that delivery. The
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license does authorize the sale of beverages for consumption on premises where sold; provided that
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the manufacturer does not sell an amount in excess of forty-eight ounces (48 oz.) of malt beverage
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or four and one-half ounces (4.5 oz.) of distilled spirits, or fifteen ounces (15 oz.) of wine per
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visitor, per day, or a combination not greater than three (3) drinks where a drink is defined as up to
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sixteen ounces (16 oz.) of beer or one and one-half ounces (1.5 oz.) or five ounces (5 oz.) of wine
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of spirits, for consumption on the premises. The license also authorizes the sale of beverages
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produced on the premises in an amount not in excess of forty-eight (48) twelve-ounce (12 oz.)
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bottles or cans or forty-eight (48) sixteen-ounce (16 oz.) bottles or cans of malt beverages,
or an

1
amount not in excess of seven hundred sixty-eight fluids ounces (768 fl. oz.) in any vessel
or one
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thousand five hundred milliliters (1,500 ml) of distilled spirits per visitor, or three (3) seven hundred
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fifty milliliter (750 ml) bottles of wine or the equivalent amount of wine sold by the can or other
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container, per day, to be sold in containers that may hold no more than seventy-two ounces (72 oz.)
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each. These beverages may be sold to the consumers for off-premises consumption, and shall be
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sold pursuant to the laws governing retail Class A establishments. The containers for the sale of
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beverages for off-premises consumption shall be sealed. The license does not authorize the sale of
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beverages in this state for delivery outside this state in violation of the law of the place of delivery.
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The license holder may provide to visitors, in conjunction with a tour or tasting, samples, clearly
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marked as samples, not to exceed three hundred seventy-five milliliters (375 ml) per visitor for
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distilled spirits and seventy-two ounces (72 oz.) per visitor for malt beverages at the licensed plant
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by the manufacturer of the product of the licensed plant to visitors for off-premises consumption.
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The license does not authorize providing samples to a visitor of any alcoholic beverages for off-
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premises consumption that are not manufactured at the licensed plant. All manufacturer licenses
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conducting retail sales or providing samples shall be subject to compliance with alcohol server
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training and liquor liability insurance requirements set forth in §§ 3-7-6.1 and 3-7-29 and the
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regulations promulgated thereunder.
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(c) The annual fee for the license is three thousand dollars ($3,000) for a distillery
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producing more than fifty thousand gallons (50,000 gal.) per year and five hundred dollars ($500)
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for a distillery producing less than or equal to fifty thousand gallons (50,000 gal.) per year; five
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hundred dollars ($500) for a brewery; and one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) for a winery
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producing more than fifty thousand gallons (50,000 gal.) per year and five hundred dollars ($500)
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per year for a winery producing less than fifty thousand gallons (50,000 gal.) per year. All those
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fees are prorated to the year ending December 1 in every calendar year and shall be paid to the
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general treasurer for the use of the state.
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(d) Notwithstanding § 3-7-18 and any other provision of the law to the contrary, a holder
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of a manufacturer’s license for a brewery, whether located within or outside this state, if authorized
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by the department of business regulation, may sell, transport, deliver, and distribute malt beverages
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of its own manufacture directly to retailers licensed under this title within this state without using
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a licensed Rhode Island wholesaler, subject to the following requirements:
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(1) If, in any calendar year, a brewery manufacturer:
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(i) Self-distributes five thousand (5,000) barrels or more within the state; or
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(ii) Has a total annual production of eight thousand (8,000) barrels or more, then the
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brewery manufacturer shall, within thirty (30) days after meeting the applicable threshold either

LC004764 - Page 2 of 4
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enter into a written agreement for distribution within this state with a wholesaler licensed in Rhode
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Island pursuant to this title or cease further self-distribution within this state for the remainder of
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that calendar year, except that the brewery manufacturer may complete delivery of orders invoiced
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prior to the date the threshold was met, for a period not to exceed fifteen (15) days. Any written
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agreement pursuant to this subsection shall be consistent with chapter 3 of title 3, negotiated in
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good faith and may include terms governing the grant, purchase, transfer, or other conveyance of
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the brewery manufacturer’s Rhode Island distribution rights for one or more brands of malt
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beverages.
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(2) A brewery manufacturer exercising self-distribution pursuant to the provisions of
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subsection (d)(1) of this section shall register with the department prior to commencing self-
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distribution in a manner prescribed by the department and maintain complete and accurate books
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and records of all self-distributed sales into this state, including invoices and delivery records, for
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not less than three (3) years and enter into, maintain, and abide by the terms of a labor peace
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agreement as defined in § 21-28.11-12.2.
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(e) Subject to city or town approval for a liquor license, a holder of a manufacturer’s license
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for a brewery is authorized to have one additional location for the retail sale of alcoholic liquor
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manufactured in the state to be consumed on and off the premises pursuant to the provisions of this
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chapter.
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(f) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a holder of a manufacturer’s
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license issued pursuant to this section may purchase from a duly licensed Rhode Island wholesaler,
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for resale at retail for consumption on the premises only, alcoholic beverages that are manufactured
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in this state by a manufacturer licensed under this title; provided that, any alcoholic beverages
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purchased for resale pursuant to this subsection shall be invoiced by, and delivered from, a Rhode
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Island wholesaler licensed under this title and alcoholic beverages resold pursuant to this subsection
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shall be limited to malt beverages, wine, and distilled spirits that are manufactured in Rhode Island.
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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
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within or outside this state, to sell, transport, deliver, and distribute malt beverages of its own
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manufacture directly to retailers within this state without using a licensed Rhode Island wholesaler.
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This act would also allow the holder of a manufacturer’s license for a brewery to have one
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additional location for the retail sale of alcoholic liquor manufactured in the state to be consumed
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on and off the premises.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004764 - Page 4 of 4