HB151 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Becky Nordgren

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Alcoholic beverage manufactures, certain financial interests and business arrangements authorized, taxation of beer and liquor provided for, brewpub reqm'ts revised, Sec. 28-3-208 added; Secs. 28-4A-2, 28-4A-6 repealed; Secs, 28-3-1, 28-3-4, 28-3A-6, 28-4A-3, 28-4A-4 am'd.

Summary

HB151 would loosen ownership rules among Alabama’s alcoholic-beverage businesses, expand brewpub rules and on-site tastings, and revise liquor taxation to support new cross-ownership and tasting arrangements.

What This Bill Does

The bill would allow limited business or financial relationships between manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers that follow federal law. It would let a licensed manufacturer dispense and sell at its on-site tasting room alcoholic beverages manufactured in-state by another manufacturer under common ownership. It would remove certain brewpub requirements (no longer needing to be in historic or economically distressed areas or operate a restaurant) and increase the brewpub beer production limit, while enabling alternating proprietorships among manufacturers. It also adds new tax provisions, including a liquor tax at retail and new off-site tasting room provisions, and repeals some existing definitions and findings to reflect the changes.

Who It Affects

• Manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers of alcoholic beverages would be allowed to form limited cross-ownership and other related arrangements and would be subject to updated tax and reporting rules.
• Brewpub operators and small beverage manufacturers would experience changes to location and food requirements, production limits, tasting room rules (including off-site options), and new ownership arrangements such as alternating proprietorships.

Key Provisions

• Authorize limited business or financial relationships among manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers that comply with federal law.
• Allow a licensed manufacturer to dispense and sell at its on-site tasting room beverages manufactured in-state by another manufacturer under common ownership with the tasting-room operator.
• Remove brewpub location requirements tied to historic/economically distressed areas and the obligation to operate a restaurant or provide food; increase the brewpubs' annual beer production limit; authorize alternating proprietorships among manufacturers.
• Add Section 28-3-208: liquor sold directly at retail by a manufacturer on licensed premises is exempt from certain taxes but subject to a new tax of $4 per liter, with revenue going to the General Fund.
• Amend Section 28-3A-6 and related sections to implement on-site and off-site tasting room provisions, including reporting, labeling, and record-keeping requirements; allow off-site tasting rooms under specified permits with rules similar to on-site tastings.
• Repeal Sections 28-4A-2 and 28-4A-6 and update various definitions and findings to reflect changes in the alcoholic beverage regulatory framework.
• Effective date: the act takes effect on the first day of the third month after governor approval.

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