HB289 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Ball

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Joe Hubbard

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Alocohic beverages, certain alcohlic beverages, brewpubs selling sample beer on-site to consumers and to consumers for off-site consumption, Sec. 28-3A-6, 28-4A-3, 28-7-18 am'd; Act 2011-630, 2011 Reg. Sess., am'd

Summary

HB289 would expand Alabama's alcohol laws by allowing brewpubs to offer on-site tastings and sell beer for off-premises consumption, authorize certain licensed beverage manufacturers to sell off-premises, and permit table wine tastings on-site, with a new table wine tax structure.

What This Bill Does

It allows brewpub licensees to conduct tastings on the licensed premises and to sell beer brewed on-site for off-premises consumption. It also lets licensed manufacturers of certain alcoholic beverages and table wines sell their products off-premises, and allows licensed manufacturers of table wine to conduct on-site tastings. A new table wine tax framework is created, setting a per-liter tax with portions distributed to the ABC board and to local governments, and requiring monthly reporting and remittance by manufacturers; the tax is in lieu of other table wine taxes (with general sales tax still applying).

Who It Affects

• Brewpub licensees: can conduct on-site tastings and sell beer brewed on-site for off-premises consumption, subject to existing licensing rules and a $1,000 annual brewpub license fee; must meet requirements like having a restaurant on-site and other restrictions on operations.
• Licensed beverage manufacturers (including table wine producers): may sell their products off-premises and, for table wine manufacturers, conduct on-site tastings; must comply with licensing, reporting, and tax requirements (including new per-liter taxes and monthly remittance).

Key Provisions

• Brewpubs may conduct tastings on the licensed premises and sell beer brewed on-site for off-premises consumption, with quantity and hours regulated by the ABC Board; they may also sell beer to licensed wholesalers for resale to retailers.
• Brewpubs may not operate without meeting certain conditions (e.g., restaurant on the premises, active brewing on-site), and brewpubs are subject to an annual license fee of $1,000.
• Licensed manufacturers of alcoholic beverages may sell their products off-premises and, for table wine manufacturers, sell directly at retail on their premises for on- or off-premises consumption; table wine manufacturers may conduct on-site tastings.
• Table wine on-premises sales or tastings are taxed at 0.45 dollars per liter; 0.38 dollars per liter is retained by the ABC board, and 0.07 dollars per liter goes to local governments (municipalities/counties); these taxes are collected monthly and replace other table wine taxes, though general sales tax remains applicable.
• Manufacturers must file monthly reports of shipments and maintain required records; taxes are collected by manufacturers as agents for state and local governments.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Alcoholic Beverages