AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES (Establishes a specific statutory pathway for distillery manufacturers to receive a distillery off-premises event endorsement under a class P license.)

H8250

2026 -- H 8250
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LC005970
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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 Alzate, Cotter, Carson, Donovan, Hull, J. Lombardi,
Stewart, McEntee, and Hopkins

Date Introduced:
March 06, 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
Class P licenses -- Caterers -- Distillery off-
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premises event endorsement.
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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; 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 all alcoholic beverages from a licensed Class A
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alcohol retail establishment located in the state, provided, however, any licensee who also holds a
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Class B license, issued pursuant to the provisions of § 3-7-7, shall be allowed to purchase alcoholic
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beverages at wholesale. Any person violating this section shall be fined five hundred dollars ($500)
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for this violation and shall be subject to license revocation. The provisions of this section shall be
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enforced in accordance with this title.
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(d) Violation of
subsection

subsections
(a)
or (e)
of this section is punishable upon
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conviction by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500). Fines imposed under this section
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shall be paid to the department of business regulation.
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(e) A licensed distillery manufacturer, licensed under the provisions of chapter 6 of title 3
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(“manufacturing and wholesale licenses”), shall be eligible to apply for a distillery off-premise
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event endorsement under a Class P license. This endorsement authorizes the licensed distillery to
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sell and serve distilled spirits manufactured by the licensee at designated events, including private
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celebrations, weddings, corporate functions, festivals, ticketed events, and other temporary
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gatherings approved by the department using a mobile bar unit or temporary service structure.
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(f) The department of business regulation shall promulgate rules and regulations for the
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implementation of the distillery off-premise event endorsement including, but not limited to:
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(1) Event permit requirements;
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(2) Insurance and liability standards;
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(3) Responsible server training requirements;
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(4) Municipal consent or notification procedures; and
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(5) Caps or limits on annual endorsements if needed to protect public safety.
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(g) Nothing in this section authorizes the sale of distilled spirits other than those
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manufactured by the licensed distillery.
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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 establish a specific statutory pathway for distillery manufacturers to receive
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a distillery off-premises event endorsement under a class P license. This endorsement would
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authorize a licensed distillery to sell and serve distilled spirits manufactured by the licensee at
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designated events such as private celebrations, weddings, and corporate functions.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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