Relating to native winery retail alcohol licenses

This bill creates a new special class “C” retail native wine license which can be obtained by a person engaged in the business of manufacturing native wine. The license authorizes the holder to sell native wine purchased from a native winery holding a class “A” wine permit and beer from class “A” beer permittees and class “B” and class “E” retail alcohol licensees only at retail for consumption on or off the premises. A person holding the new special class “C” retail native wine license is also allowed to make sales of native wine in a container other than the original container only if certain requirements related to transferring the wine and sealing the container are met. A container of beer or native wine that is sold and sealed in compliance with the requirements of the bill shall not be deemed an open container. The fee for the new license is $125. The bill authorizes a person engaged in the business of manufacturing wine to be granted not more than two special class “C” retail native wine licenses. Current law provides that a person engaged in the business of manufacturing wine may only be granted up to two class “C” retail alcohol licenses. A class “C” retail alcohol license authorizes the holder to purchase and sell alcoholic liquor, wine, and beer.