SB77 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, provide for phase out of retail sales of alcohol by board, Secs. 28-3-280 to 28-3-286, inclusive, repealed; Secs. 28-3-43, 28-3-53.1, 28-3-53.2, am'd.

Summary

SB 77 would phase out the Alabama ABC Board's retail liquor sales by October 1, 2024 and keep wholesale operations, while creating a limited off-premises retail license for existing board licensees and setting new pricing and tax rules.

What This Bill Does

It requires the ABC Board to adopt, amend, or repeal rules to end retail alcohol sales by October 1, 2024 and to close all state-operated stores and retail operations. It preserves the board's other functions, such as wholesale liquor operations, licensing, auditing, and collection. It creates a new limited retail license for off-premises sale of unopened liquor containers by existing board licensees, with an annual fee not to exceed $750 and renewal allowed but no sale or transfer of the license. It maintains existing taxes on retail liquor sold before phasing out, but after phasing out the board will set a markup, and proceeds and tax distributions will follow specified rules; it also repeals the old retail sections (28-3-280 to 28-3-286).

Who It Affects

• State-operated liquor stores and board retail licensees: retail sales by the board end by 2024, with a limited off-premises license available to existing licensees to sell unopened containers, and license transfer or sale of those licenses is prohibited.
• Displaced ABC Board employees: eligible for severance pay, preferential treatment, and other benefits as authorized by the State Personnel Board.

Key Provisions

• Provision 1: Phase-out and ongoing board functions. The board must phase out retail alcohol sales by October 1, 2024, close state-operated stores, and continue wholesale, licensing, auditing, and collection activities; it must revise operations and pricing through rules under the Administrative Procedure Act.
• Provision 2: New off-premises retail license and revenue rules. Existing board licensees may obtain a new retail license (fee up to $750/year) to purchase liquor from the board and sell unopened containers off-premises; licenses may be renewed annually but cannot be bought, sold, or transferred; liquor taxes and a board-set markup will apply after the phase-out, and proceeds will be distributed under existing law; old retail sections (28-3-280 to 28-3-286) are repealed.

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 Beverage Control Board