HB365 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Terri CollinsRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Wine, authorizing common carriers to make delivery of alcoholic beverages to residents over 21, to create a wine direct shipper permit to allow wine manufacturers to ship their table wine directly to residents, Sec. 28-3A-6.1 added; Sec. 28-1-4 am'd.

Summary

HB365 would authorize direct wine shipping to Alabama residents by licensed wine manufacturers and allow common carriers to deliver alcohol to residents, with age-verification, tax collection, and reporting requirements.

What This Bill Does

HB365 would create a wine direct shipper permit allowing licensed wine manufacturers to ship limited quantities of table wine directly to Alabama residents age 21+ for personal use, with required tax collection. It would also permit common carriers to deliver alcoholic beverages to residents 21+ and impose age verification, signature, and quarterly reporting requirements on those shipments. The bill establishes penalties for shipping wine without a permit, requires container labeling, and authorizes the ABC Board to adopt enforcement rules and set permit renewals and fines.

Who It Affects

• Licensed wine manufacturers (and holders of federal basic wine manufacturing permits): may obtain a wine direct shipper permit and ship up to 12 cases per 12 months to a single Alabama resident, with duties to collect taxes, report shipments, and renew permits.
• Alabama residents 21 years and older: can receive direct shipments of table wine for personal use under the permit limits.
• Common carriers delivering wine to Alabama residents: must verify recipient age, obtain a signature, maintain signature records for 3 years, and file quarterly shipment reports with the ABC Board and Department of Revenue.
• Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board and the Department of Revenue: oversee permits, collection of taxes, receipt of shipment reports, audits, and enforcement actions.
• Local governments in Alabama: the bill is structured to avoid new local expenditures via constitutional exceptions.

Key Provisions

• Adds new Section 28-3A-6.1 authorizing a wine direct shipper permit for licensed wine manufacturers or holders of a federal basic wine manufacturing permit to ship wine directly to Alabama residents 21+ for personal use, up to 12 cases per 12 months per resident, with each case not exceeding 9 liters.
• Direct shipper permittees must file an application with the ABC Board, pay a $200 filing fee, and provide a true copy of their current manufacturer license or federal permit.
• Permittees may not ship more than the 12-case limit to any one consumer in a 12-month period and may not ship to premises licensed by the ABC Board; containers must be labeled with a conspicuous warning about alcohol and age 21+.
• Permittees must report to the ABC Board and Department of Revenue the total wine shipped to Alabama residents, including amounts per residential address, and must collect and remit all applicable state and local taxes and excise taxes.
• Permittees must allow audits of their records by the ABC Board or Department of Revenue and must obtain from customers an attestation that they are at least 21 at the time of order; they consent to state enforcement jurisdiction.
• Renewal of a wine direct shipper permit costs $100 annually and requires a current manufacturer license copy; the ABC Board may adopt rules under the Administrative Procedure Act.
• Shipment of wine directly to consumers by non-permit holders is a Class C misdemeanor; the board may suspend or revoke permits or impose fines for violations.
• Common carriers delivering to Alabama residents must verify age, obtain an adult signature upon delivery, and maintain signature records for at least three years; failure to comply can lead to license suspension or penalties.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor's approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Alcoholic Beverages