HB289 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris EnglandRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Alcoholic beverages, retail licensees, making of infusions using distilled spirits authorized, Sec. 28-3A-20.3 added; Sec. 28-3A-25 am'd.

Summary

The bill lets Alabama on-premises alcohol licensees infuse distilled spirits with nonalcoholic ingredients for on-site use, and allows retail licensees to make infusions for on-site consumption under defined rules.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes on-premises licensees to produce, store, and sell infused alcoholic beverages. It defines infusion as mixing a distilled spirit with nonalcoholic food products and requiring on-site use, with rules on notification, sourcing, container size, labeling, safety, and disposal. It also updates law to allow these infusions by retail licensees for on-site cocktails and to require compliance with the new infusion rules; the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board can set additional rules.

Who It Affects

• On-premises alcohol licensees (bars/restaurants) who want to produce or sell infused products on their licensed premises and must follow notification, labeling, storage, and disposal requirements.
• The Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (regulator) which will oversee the infusion program, require notice from licensees, collect taxes on spirits, and promulgate any extra rules as needed.

Key Provisions

• Adds Section 28-3A-20.3 allowing on-premises licensees to infuse alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption.
• Infusion is defined as mixing a distilled spirit with nonalcoholic food products, with no additional fermentation and no added alcohol in the additives.
• Retail on-premises licensees may produce, store, and sell infusions, and may mix cocktails or infusions for on-site consumption under Section 28-3A-20.3.
• Licensees must provide written notification to the ABC Board before producing, storing, or selling infusions; spirits used must be bought from a board-licensed wholesale store and all state taxes paid.
• Infusion containers may not exceed five gallons; batches must be infused, stored, and consumed only on the licensed premises and must be labeled with alcohol content, recipe title, preparer, production date, expiration date, spirits used, amount of spirits, and a full ingredient list.
• Batches must comply with state and federal food safety regulations and be disposed of within seven days after preparation.
• Infusions may not contain stimulants or illegal substances, cannot be transported off the premises, and cannot be dispensed from original liquor packaging or brand-name containers.
• The ABC Board may establish additional rules to implement these provisions.
• Section 28-3A-25 is amended to recognize that retail licensees may mix chasers or other ingredients for cocktails or infused beverages on-site in accordance with 28-3A-20.3.

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