HB134 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

David FaulknerRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Alcoholic beverages, wine and beer, authorize tastings in grocery stores, Sec. 28-3A-20.3 added

Summary

HB134 would allow wine and beer tastings in certain large grocery stores under ABC Board rules, with strict portion and timing limits.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill lets qualifying grocery stores offer free wine and beer tastings inside the store, conducted by licensed manufacturers or distributors or their representatives. Tastings must be free to consumers, with a maximum of 2 ounces per tasting per customer, and can occur from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., ending within three hours of the first tasting. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Board would create rules to regulate how tastings are run, and grocery stores must meet defined criteria to participate.

Who It Affects

• Grocery stores licensed to sell wine and beer for off-premises consumption that meet the defined criteria (annual sales of at least $2,000,000 and six or more checkout lanes) and want to host tastings.
• Licensed wine/beer manufacturers or distributors and their representatives who conduct tastings in those grocery stores.

Key Provisions

• Adds section 28-3A-20.3 defining 'grocery store' as an establishment that primarily sells a variety of food for off-premises consumption, with annual sales of at least $2,000,000 and six or more checkout lanes.
• Allows tastings of wine and beer inside such grocery stores, to be conducted by licensed manufacturers or distributors or their representatives, at no charge to the consumer.
• Sets a maximum of 2-ounce servings per tasting per customer; no limit on the number of servings; tastings may occur between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. and must end within three hours of the first tasting.
• authorizes the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to adopt rules to implement the section.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and approval by the Governor (or otherwise becoming law).

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