AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES (Allows holders of a Class P license to purchase alcoholic beverages from either a retail or wholesale establishment in the State of Rhode Island.)

H7664

2026 -- H 7664
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LC004863
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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 -- RETAIL LICENSES

Introduced By:
Representatives Casey, J. Brien, McEntee, and Corvese

Date Introduced:
February 11, 2026

Referred To:
House Small Business
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 3-7-14.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 3-7 entitled "Retail
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Licenses" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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3-7-14.2. Class P licenses — Caterers.
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(a) A caterer licensed by the department of health and the division of taxation shall be
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eligible to apply for a Class P license from the department of business regulation. The department
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of business regulation is authorized to issue all caterers’ licenses. The license will be valid
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throughout this state as a state license and no further license will be required or tax imposed by any
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city or town upon this alcoholic beverage privilege. Each caterer to which the license is issued shall
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pay to the department of business regulation an annual fee of five hundred dollars ($500) for the
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license, which fees are paid into the state treasury. The department is authorized to promulgate
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rules and regulations for the implementation of this license. In promulgating said rules, the
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department shall include, but is not limited to, the following standards:
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(1) Proper identification will be required for individuals who look thirty (30) years old or
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younger and who are ordering alcoholic beverages;
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(2) Only valid ID’s as defined by these titles are acceptable;
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(3) An individual may not be served more than two (2) drinks at a time;
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(4) Licensees, their agents, or employees will not serve visibly intoxicated individuals;
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(5) Licensees may only serve alcoholic beverages for no more than a five-hour (5) period
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per event;

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(6) Only a licensee, or its employees, may serve alcoholic beverages at the event;
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(7) The licensee will deliver and remove alcoholic beverages to the event
, unless provided
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by the event host at their residence and the alcohol is under the control of the caterer for the entire
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period of time the caterer is onsite
; and
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(8) No shots or triple alcoholic drinks will be served.
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(b) Any bartender employed by the licensee shall be certified by a nationally recognized
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alcohol beverage server training program.
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(c) The licensee shall purchase at retail
or wholesale
all alcoholic beverages from a licensed
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Class A alcohol retail
or wholesale
establishment
which is
located in the state
, provided, however,
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any licensee who also holds a Class B license, issued pursuant to the provisions of § 3-7-7, shall be
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allowed to purchase alcoholic beverages at wholesale
.
Wholesalers may refuse to fulfill orders
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permitted under this section, or may set minimum quantities or dollar values per order.
Any person
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violating this section shall be fined five hundred dollars ($500) for this violation and shall be subject
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to license revocation. The provisions of this section shall be enforced in accordance with this title.
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(d) Violation of subsection (a) of this section is punishable upon conviction by a fine of
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not more than five hundred dollars ($500). Fines imposed under this section shall be paid to the
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department of business regulation.
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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 -- RETAIL LICENSES
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This act would allow holders of a Class P license to purchase alcoholic beverages from
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either a retail or wholesale establishment in the State of Rhode Island and allow wholesalers to
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refuse to fulfill orders permitted under this section, or set minimum quantities or dollar values per
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order. It would also permit caterers to serve and leave an event host's alcoholic beverages at their
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residence so long as it is under the caterer's control for the entirety of the event.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004863 - Page 3 of 3