SB240 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bobby D. SingletonSenator

Democrat

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

SB240 would let Alabama wine manufacturers ship wine directly to residents 21+ and allow carriers to deliver alcohol to residents, with new permits, reporting, and penalties.

What This Bill Does

It creates a wine direct shipper permit allowing licensed wine manufacturers to ship up to 12 cases per Alabama resident per year (each case up to 9 liters) for personal use, with tax collection and reporting requirements. It also allows common carriers to deliver alcoholic beverages to residents 21+ but requires age verification, recipient signatures, and quarterly shipment reporting to the ABC Board and the Department of Revenue, plus related record-keeping and penalties for noncompliance. The bill establishes licensing, labeling, and auditing rules, sets application and renewal fees, and imposes penalties for shipments without a permit, including possible revocation and fines; it also notes a local-funding exemption under the Constitution.

Who It Affects

• Wine manufacturers in Alabama (or those with a federal basic wine manufacturing permit) who may apply for a wine direct shipper permit to ship table wine directly to Alabama residents 21+ for personal use.
• Alabama residents aged 21 and older who would receive wine shipments, as well as common carriers delivering those shipments, who must comply with age verification, signatures, reporting, and tax collection rules.

Key Provisions

• Allows licensed wine manufacturers to obtain a wine direct shipper permit and ship up to 12 cases per resident per year (each case ≤ 9 liters) for personal use to Alabama residents 21+.
• Direct shipments must be labeled with 'CONTAINS ALCOHOL: SIGNATURE OF PERSON AGE 21 OR OLDER REQUIRED FOR DELIVERY' and the shipper must collect an attestation that the recipient is at least 21.
• Permittees must collect and remit all applicable state and local taxes and excise taxes; annual renewal fee is $100; initial application fee is $200; provide true copies of licenses.
• Common carriers may deliver alcohol to Alabama residents 21+, but must verify age with a signature and maintain delivery records for 3 years; must report shipment details quarterly to the ABC Board and the Department of Revenue.
• Reports must include shipper name/address, shipment weight, recipient name/address, a tracking number, and delivery date; records must be available for law enforcement.
• Violations include shipping wine without a permit (Class C misdemeanor) and may lead to suspension or revocation of the permit, or fines; the ABC Board may adopt implementing rules.
• Shipments to premises licensed by the ABC Board are not allowed; the bill provides enforcement mechanisms and audits of permittee records.
• The act is exempt from local expenditure requirements under Amendment 621 because it creates or amends a crime.

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