GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2017

S                                                                                                                                                     1

SENATE BILL 155

 

 

Short Title:      Economic & Job Growth for NC Distilleries.

(Public)

Sponsors:

Senators Gunn, Blue, Harrington (Primary Sponsors);  Bryant, Chaudhuri, Ford, J. Jackson, Lee, Smith-Ingram, and Van Duyn.

Referred to:

Rules and Operations of the Senate

March 2, 2017

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT To AmEnD AlcoHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL PERMITS AND ALLOW RESTAURANTS TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES BEFORE NOON ON SUNDAYS, SUBJECT TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT APPROVAL.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

DISTILLerY pErMIT AMENDMENTS

SECTION 1.(a)  G.S. 18B‑1105 reads as rewritten:

"§ 18B‑1105.  Authorization of distillery permit.

(a)        Authorized Acts. – The holder of a distillery permit may do any of the following:

(1)        Manufacture, purchase, import, possess and transport ingredients and equipment used in the distillation of spirituous liquor.

(2)        Sell, deliver and ship spirituous liquor in closed containers at wholesale to exporters and local boards within the State, and, subject to the laws of other jurisdictions, at wholesale or retail to private or public agencies or establishments of other states or nations.State.

(2a)      Sell spirituous liquor in closed containers at wholesale or retail, subject to the laws of other jurisdictions, for delivery outside the State.

(3)        Transport into or out of the distillery the maximum amount of liquor allowed under federal law, if the transportation is related to the distilling process.

(4)        Sell spirituous liquor distilled at the distillery in closed containers to visitors who tour the distillery for consumption off the premises. Sales under this subdivision are allowed only in a county where the establishment of a county or municipal ABC store has been approved pursuant to G.S. 18B‑602(g) and are subject to the time and day restrictions in G.S. 18B‑802. Spirituous liquor sold under this subdivision shall (i) be listed as a code item for sale in the State, (ii) be sold at the price set by the Commission for the code item pursuant to G.S. 18B‑804(b), and (iii) have affixed to its bottle a sticker that bears the words "North Carolina Distillery Tour Commemorative Spirit" in addition to any other labeling requirements set by law. Consumers purchasing spirituous liquor under this subdivision are limited to purchasing, and the selling distillery is limited to selling to each consumer, no more than one bottlefive bottles of spirituous liquor per 12 month period. The distillery shall use a commonly adopted standard point of sale system to maintain searchable electronic records captured at the point of sale, to include the purchaser's name, drivers license number, and date of birth for at least 12 months from the date of purchase. The Commission shall adopt rules regulating the retail sale of spirituous liquor under this subdivision.

(5)        Conduct consumer tastings in accordance with G.S. 18B‑1114.7.

(b)        Distilleries for Fuel Alcohol. – Any person in possession of a Federal Operating Permit pursuant to Title 27, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 19 (April 1, 2010 Edition), shall obtain a fuel alcohol permit before manufacturing any alcohol. The permit shall entitle the permittee to perform only those acts allowed by the Federal Operating Permit, and all conditions of the Federal Operating Permit shall apply to the State permit."

SECTION 1.(b)  G.S. 18B‑804 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

"§ 18B‑804.  Alcoholic beverage pricing.

(a)        Uniform Price of Spirituous Liquor. – The retail price of spirituous liquor sold in ABC stores and permitted distilleries shall be uniform throughout the State, unless otherwise provided by the ABC law.

(b)        Sale Price of Spirituous Liquor. – The sale of spirituous liquor, including antique spirituous liquor, sold at the uniform State price shall consist of the following components:

(1)        The distiller's or the antique spirituous liquor seller's price.

(2)        The freight and bailment charges of the State warehouse as determined by the Commission.

(3)        A markup for local boards as determined by the Commission.

(4)        The tax levied under G.S. 105‑113.80(c), which shall be levied on the sum of subdivisions (1), (2), and (3).

(5)        An additional markup for local boards equal to three and one‑half percent (3 1/2%) of the sum of subdivisions (1), (2), and (3).

(6)        A bottle charge of one cent (1’) on each bottle containing 50 milliliters or less and five cents (5’) on each bottle containing more than 50 milliliters.

(6a)      The bailment surcharge.

(6b)      An additional bottle charge for local boards of one cent (1’) on each bottle containing 50 milliliters or less and five cents (5’) on each bottle containing more than 50 milliliters.

(7)        A rounding adjustment, the formula of which may be determined by the Commission, so that the sale price will be divisible by five.

(8)        If the spirituous liquor is sold to a mixed beverage permittee for resale in mixed beverages, a charge of twenty dollars ($20.00) on each four liters and a proportional sum on lesser quantities.

(9)        If the spirituous liquor is sold to a guest room cabinet permittee for resale, a charge of twenty dollars ($20.00) on each four liters and a proportional sum on lesser quantities.

(b1)      Price of Spirituous Liquor Sold at Distillery. – When the holder of a distillery permit sells spirituous liquor distilled at the distillery pursuant to G.S. 18B‑1105(a)(4), the retail price of the spirituous liquor shall be the uniform State price set by subsection (a) of this section. However, the holder of the distillery permit shall not be required to remit the components of the price set forth by subdivisions (2), (3), (5), (6), (6a), (6b), and (7) of subsection (b) of this section.

(b2)      Price of Spirituous Liquor Sold for Delivery Outside the State. – When the holder of a distillery permit sells spirituous liquor for delivery outside the State pursuant to G.S. 18B‑1105(a)(2a), the retail price of the spirituous liquor shall be the distiller's price.

(c)        Sale Price of Fortified Wine. – The sale price of fortified wine shall include the tax levied by G.S. 105‑113.80(b), as well as State and local sales taxes.

(d)       Repealed by Session Laws 1985, c. 59, s. 2."

SECTION 1.(c)  G.S. 18B‑800 reads as rewritten:

"§ 18B‑800.  Sale of alcoholic beverages in ABC stores.

(a)        Spirituous Liquor. – Except as provided in Article 10 Articles 10 and 11 of this Chapter, spirituous liquor may be sold only in ABC stores operated by local boards.

...."

SECTION 1.(d)  The Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission shall adopt temporary rules to amend its rules consistent with this section.

SECTION 1.(e)  This section becomes effective July 1, 2017.

 

CREATE sPIRITUOUS LIQUOR SPECIAL EVENT pERMIT TO ALLOW DISTILLERIES TO GIVE FREE TASTINGS

SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 18B‑301 reads as rewritten:

"§ 18B‑301.  Possession and consumption of fortified wine and spirituous liquor.

…

(e)        Incident to Sale. – It shall be lawful to possess fortified wine and spirituous liquor at any place, such as an ABC store, where possession is a necessary incident to lawful sale. Consumption at such a place shall be unlawful unless the establishment has a permit authorizing consumption on the premises as well as sale.sale or a consumer tasting authorized by G.S. 18B‑1114.7 is being conducted at the ABC store.

(f)        Unlawful Possession or Use. – As illustration, but not limitation, of the general prohibition stated in G.S. 18B‑102(a), it shall be unlawful for:

(1)        Any person to consume fortified wine, spirituous liquor, or mixed beverages or to offer such beverages to another person:person at any of the following places:

a.         On the premises of an ABC store, orstore, unless a consumer tasting authorized by G.S. 18B‑1114.7 is being conducted at the ABC store.

b.         Upon any property used or occupied by a local board, orboard.

c.         On any public road, street, highway, or sidewalk.sidewalk, unless a consumer tasting authorized by G.S. 18B‑1114.7 is being conducted.

…."

SECTION 2.(b)  G.S. 18B‑902(d) is amended by adding new subdivisions to read:

"(d)      Fees. – An application for an ABC permit shall be accompanied by payment of the following application fee:

(1)        On‑premises malt beverage permit – $400.00.

(2)        Off‑premises malt beverage permit – $400.00.

(3)        On‑premises unfortified wine permit – $400.00.

(4)        Off‑premises unfortified wine permit – $400.00.

(5)        On‑premises fortified wine permit – $400.00.

(6)        Off‑premises fortified wine permit – $400.00.

(7)        Brown‑bagging permit – $400.00, unless the application is for a restaurant seating less than 50, in which case the fee shall be $200.00.

(8)        Special occasion permit – $400.00.

(9)        Limited special occasion permit – $50.00.

(10)      Mixed beverages permit – $1,000.

(11)      Culinary permit – $200.00.

(12)      Unfortified winery permit – $300.00.

(13)      Fortified winery permit – $300.00.

(14)      Limited winery permit – $300.00.

(15)      Brewery permit – $300.00.

(16)      Distillery permit – $300.00.

(17)      Fuel alcohol permit – $100.00.

(18)      Wine importer permit – $300.00.

(19)      Wine wholesaler permit – $300.00.

(20)      Malt beverage importer permit – $300.00.

(21)      Malt beverage wholesaler permit – $300.00.

(22)      Bottler permit – $300.00.

(23)      Salesman permit – $100.00.

(24)      Vendor representative permit – $50.00.

(25)      Nonresident malt beverage vendor permit – $100.00.

(26)      Nonresident wine vendor permit – $100.00.

(27)      Any special one‑time permit under G.S. 18B‑1002 – $50.00.

(28)      Winery special event permit – $200.00.

(29)      Mixed beverages catering permit – $200.00.

(30)      Guest room cabinet permit – $1,000.

(31)      Liquor importer/bottler permit – $500.00.

(32)      Cider and vinegar manufacturer permit – $200.00.

(33)      Brew on premises permit – $400.00.

(34)      Wine producer permit – $300.00.

(35)      Wine tasting permit – $100.00.

(36)      Repealed by Session Laws 2005‑380, s. 1, effective September 8, 2005, and applicable to wine shipper permit applications submitted on or after that date.

(37)      Wine shop permit – $100.00.

(38)      Winemaking on premises permit – $400.00.

(39)      Wine shipper packager permit – $100.00.

(40)      Malt beverage special event permit – $200.00.

(41)      Malt beverage tasting permit – $100.00.

(42)      Spirituous liquor tasting permit – $100.00.

(43)      Antique spirituous liquor permit – $100.00.

(44)      Spirituous liquor special event permit – $200.00.

(45)      Special auction permit – $750.00."

SECTION 2.(c)  Article 11 of Chapter 18B of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 18B‑1114.7.  Authorization of spirituous liquor special event permit.

(a)        Authorization. – The holder of a distillery permit issued under G.S. 18B‑1105 may obtain a spirituous liquor special event permit allowing the permittee to give free tastings of its spirituous liquors at ABC stores, trade shows, conventions, shopping malls, street festivals, holiday festivals, agricultural festivals, balloon races, local fund‑raisers, and other similar events approved by the Commission.

(b)        Limitations. – Any consumer tasting is subject to the following limitations:

(1)        The permit holder shall conduct the consumer tasting and shall be solely responsible for any violations of this Chapter occurring in connection with the consumer tasting.

(2)        The spirituous liquor shall be poured only by either (i) the permit holder conducting the consumer tasting or (ii) an employee of the permit holder conducting the consumer tasting who is at least 21 years of age.

(3)        Each consumer shall be limited to one 0.25 ounce tasting sample of any product made available for sampling at the consumer tasting, and the total amount of the tasting samples offered to and consumed by each consumer shall not exceed 1.5 ounces of spirituous liquor in any calendar day.

(4)        The permit holder shall not offer tasting samples to, or allow consumption of tasting samples by, any consumer who is visibly intoxicated.

(5)        The permit holder shall not offer tasting samples to, or allow consumption of tasting samples by, any consumer under the legal age for consuming spirituous liquor. The person pouring the spirituous liquor shall be responsible for verifying the age of the consumer being served by checking the identification of the consumer.

(6)        The permit holder shall not charge a consumer for any tasting sample.

(7)        No venue shall allow more than three different permit holders to conduct a consumer tasting at any event. However, the local board may grant approval for additional permit holders to conduct consumer tastings at a specific event.

(8)        A venue allowing tastings shall designate a tasting area within the venue that enables the permit holder to ensure that the consumer tasting is being conducted in compliance with this section. Consumers shall only be allowed to consume tasting samples within the designated tasting area.

(9)        A consumer tasting shall not be allowed unless the venue is located in a jurisdiction that has approved the sale of mixed beverages.

(10)      The permit holder conducting the event may provide point‑of‑sale advertising materials and advertising specialties to consumers at the consumer tasting.

(11)      The permit holder shall provide written notice of the consumer tasting to the ABC Commission at least 48 hours before the consumer tasting. The notice shall include the date of the consumer tasting, the time of the consumer tasting, the venue at which the consumer tasting will be held, and the spirituous liquor that will be provided for tasting at the consumer tasting.

(12)      The permit holder shall maintain for a period of at least one year a record of each consumer tasting conducted. The record shall include the date of the consumer tasting, the time of the consumer tasting, an identification of the venue at which the consumer tasting was held, an identification of the spirituous liquor that was provided for tasting at the consumer tasting, and the name of any person who poured spirituous liquor at the consumer tasting. The permit holder shall allow the ABC Commission to inspect those records at any time.

(13)      For tastings conducted in an ABC store, the local board may impose additional conditions. Any additional conditions shall be in writing, and the local board shall post notice of the additional conditions at the local board's administrative offices and at all of the ABC stores within the local board's system.

(c)        Consideration Prohibited. – Except as otherwise provided under this section, a permit holder conducting a consumer tasting under this section at an ABC store shall not provide any consideration to the local board, its board members, or its employees for any purpose related to the consumer tasting. A consumer tasting shall not be used by permit holders for unlawful inducements to a local board."

 

ALlow SalE OF AlcoHOlIC BEVERAGES AT AUCTION BY LICENSED AUCTIONEERS

SECTION 3.(a)  G.S. 18B‑603(f) reads as rewritten:

"§ 18B‑603.  Effect of alcoholic beverage elections on issuance of permits.

...

(f)        Permits Not Dependent on Elections. – The Commission may issue the following kinds of permits without approval at an election:

(1)        Special occasion permits;permits.

(2)        Limited special occasion permits;permits.

(3)        Brown‑bagging permits for private clubs and congressionally chartered veterans organizations;organizations.

(4)        Culinary permits, except as restricted by subdivision (d)(5);subdivision (d)(5).

(5)        Special one‑time permits issued under G.S. 18B‑1002;G.S. 18B‑1002.

(6)        All permits listed in G.S. 18B‑1100;G.S. 18B‑1100.

(7)        The permits authorized by G.S. 18B‑1001(1), (3), (5), and (10) for tourism ABC establishments;establishments.

(8)        The permits authorized by G.S. 18B‑1001(1), (3), (5), and (10) for tourism resorts;resorts.

(9)        The permits authorized by G.S. 18B‑1001(1), (3), (5), and (10) for historic ABC establishments.

(10)      Special auction permits issued under G.S. 18B‑1002.1."

SECTION 3.(b)  Article 10 of Chapter 18B of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 18B‑1002.1.  Special auction permit.

(a)        Permit Authorized. – A permit may be issued upon application to an auction firm or auctioneer licensed by the North Carolina Auctioneers Commission pursuant to Chapter 85B of the General Statutes to allow the licensed auction firm or auctioneer to sell any quantity of malt beverages, unfortified wine, fortified wine, and spirituous liquors at auction. An auction held under this section may receive competing bids that are in person or by telephone, fax, or online. A permit to sell malt beverages, unfortified wine, or fortified wine at auction shall only be issued in jurisdictions that allow the sale of malt beverages, unfortified wine, or fortified wine, respectively. A permit to sell spirituous liquor at auction shall be issued only in a jurisdiction that has approved the establishment of ABC stores. The Commission shall deny an application for a one‑time special auction permit only if (i) the applicant is ineligible to hold an ABC permit pursuant to G.S. 18B‑900 or (ii) the jurisdiction where the auction will be held has not approved the sale of the type of alcoholic beverages to be sold at auction.

(b)        Conditions of Permit. – A permit issued under this section shall be valid only for the auction specified in the permit. Any sales under this permit shall be subject to the purchase restrictions in G.S. 18B‑303.

(c)        Administrative Procedure. – Denial or revocation of a permit under this section shall not entitle the applicant or permittee to a hearing under Chapter 150B of the General Statutes."

SECTION 3.(c)  This section becomes effective October 1, 2017.

 

AlLOW RESTAUrANTS TO SELL ALCOholiC BeVErAGES before NOoN ON SUNDAYS, SUBjECT to LOCAL GOVErnMENT APPROVAL

SECTION 4.(a)  G.S. 18B‑1004(c) reads as rewritten:

"§ 18B‑1004.  Hours for sale and consumption.

...

(c)        Sunday Hours. – It Except as authorized pursuant to G.S. 153A‑145.7 or G.S. 160A‑205.3, it shall be unlawful to sell or consume alcoholic beverages on any licensed premises from the time at which sale or consumption must cease on Sunday morning until 12:00 Noon on that day."

SECTION 4.(b)  Article 6 of Chapter 153A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 153A‑145.7.  Hours of certain alcohol sales at restaurants.

In accordance with G.S. 18B‑1004(c), a county may adopt an ordinance allowing licensed restaurants to sell alcoholic beverages for on‑premises consumption beginning at 10:00 A.M. on Sunday morning pursuant to the restaurant's on‑premises malt beverage permit, on‑premises unfortified wine permit, on‑premises fortified wine permit, or mixed beverages permit."

SECTION 4.(c)  Article 8 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 160A‑205.3.  Hours of certain alcohol sales at restaurants.

In accordance with G.S. 18B‑1004(c), a city may adopt an ordinance allowing licensed restaurants to sell alcoholic beverages for on‑premises consumption beginning at 10:00 A.M. on Sunday morning pursuant to the restaurant's on‑premises malt beverage permit, on‑premises unfortified wine permit, on‑premises fortified wine permit, or mixed beverages permit."

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

SECTION 5.  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.