SB87 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Andrew JonesSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Wine festivals authorized, licensed by ABC Board, allow tastings and sale of wine, Sec. 28-3A-20.3 added.

Summary

This bill would let wine festivals be licensed by the Alabama ABC Board, allowing wineries to provide tastings and sell wine at festivals for on-site or off-site consumption.

What This Bill Does

It creates a new wine festival license issued by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to eligible groups to hold a festival where wineries can offer tastings and sell their wine for on-site or off-site consumption. Eligible recipients include licensed wineries, organizations made up entirely of grape growers and wineries, municipalities, counties, and certain arts or downtown development groups. The license imposes rules on packaging, labeling, taxation, and limits on off-site sales, including a maximum of one case per customer per day, with no sales on Sundays after 2:00 a.m., and a potential fee exemption if the festival is entirely on winery premises.

Who It Affects

• Licensed wineries, which can apply for a festival license and sell wine at the festival for on-site or off-site consumption.
• Organizations comprised entirely of grape growers and wineries, which can apply for a festival license to host a wine festival.
• Municipalities and counties, which can apply for a festival license to host a wine festival.
• Incorporated arts councils, main street programs, or downtown development entities, which can apply for a festival license to host a wine festival.

Key Provisions

• Adds Section 28-3A-20.3 authorizing a wine festival license issued by the ABC Board; applications must be on a form provided by the board and filed at least 25 days in advance, with a fee not to exceed $150.
• Licenses may be issued to a licensed winery, an organization comprised entirely of grape growers and wineries, a municipality, a county, or an incorporated arts council/main street/downtown development entity, under terms and conditions set by the board.
• The license allows tastings and retail sale of the winery's table wine to patrons for on-site or off-site consumption; off-site sales must be sealed, labeled, packaged, and taxed according to laws; per-customer off-site sales limited to one case per day (one case equals 12 bottles of 750 ml).
• Wine sold on-site or off-site may not be sold on Sundays after 2:00 a.m.; if the festival is entirely on the winery premises, the board may waive the license fee.
• Effective date is the first day of the third month after enactment.

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