SB214 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Larry StuttsSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Alcoholic beverages, entertainment district or brewpub, sale of alcoholic beverages, Sec. 28-3A-6.1 added; Secs. 28-3A-17.1, 28-4A-3 am'd.

Summary

SB214 would expand beer and alcohol sales and consumption in Alabama by creating a craft brewer license, allowing brewpubs to operate more fully, letting entertainment districts support on-site drinking, and permitting on-site food and open-container drinking within districts.

What This Bill Does

It allows retail licensees in an entertainment district to sell alcohol for on-site consumption. It lets patrons of craft brewery or brewpub licensees exit with open containers and drink anywhere within the entertainment district (but not enter other licensed premises with those containers). It authorizes brewpubs to sell beer for on- and off-premises consumption and to operate a restaurant on site. It creates a craft brewer license (up to 2,000,000 barrels per year) that permits brewing, selling on site to consumers, and selling to licensed wholesalers, along with required record-keeping, monthly shipment reports, and taxes; craft brewers may also operate a food facility and offer samples on site. It sets a brewpub license framework with up to 10,000 barrels per year, requires a restaurant on site, and allows on- and off-premises sale of beer produced on the premises, with a $1,000 annual license fee for brewpubs.

Who It Affects

• Retail licensees within entertainment districts and their customers, who could sell and consume alcohol on the premises and within the district, subject to open-container rules inside the district.
• Craft brewers and brewpub operators, who would obtain new or modified licenses, be allowed to brew and sell beer under specified limits, maintain records, pay taxes, and comply with reporting and inspection requirements; they would also face new on-site food facilities and on-site or nearby restaurant operations.

Key Provisions

• Establishes entertainment districts designated by the Alabama ABC Board where retail licensees can sell alcohol for on-premises consumption and patrons may drink openly within the district (not extending beyond district boundaries and not allowing open containers to enter other licensed premises). Districts have size and occupancy rules and require a minimum number of licensees.
• Creates a craft brewer license (up to 2,000,000 barrels per year) authorizing brewing within Alabama, selling beer on the licensed premises to consumers (on- or off-premises) and selling beer to licensed wholesalers for resale to retailers; direct sales to retailers are not allowed.
• Requires craft brewers to file labels with the board, maintain detailed records, file monthly shipment reports, and comply with tax collection and payment through the licensee as an agent for consumer and local taxes; craft brewers may operate a food facility, offer free samples for on-site consumption, and sell beer brewed on-site at retail on the premises.
• Creates a brewpub license allowing up to 10,000 barrels per year of beer brewed on-site, plus sale of beer on- and off-premises to consumers and to licensed wholesalers for resale; brewpubs must operate a restaurant or provide food on-site; brewpubs have an annual license fee of $1,000, and provisions govern packaging, delivery, and sale of beer.
• Allows retail licenses within entertainment districts to sell alcohol for on-site consumption and permits patrons to consume within districts, with restrictions about entering other licensed premises with open containers; districts are limited in number and geographic size.

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