HB539 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Anthony DanielsRepresentative

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Jeremy GrayKelvin Lawrence

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Breweries, distilleries, daily limit on amount beer or liquor sold to customers eliminated, Sec. 28-3A-6 am'd.

Summary

HB539 rewrites off-premises sale limits for beer and liquor by brewpubs and certain manufacturers, updates licensing and donation rules, and expands retail table wine sales and related tasting options.

What This Bill Does

Sets specific off-premises sale limits for manufacturers: beer produced on licensed premises may be sold off-premises up to 288,864 ounces per customer per day, with the 60,000-barrel threshold including beer produced by affiliates or contract breweries. Allows liquor produced on the licensed premises to be sold off-premises within a daily limit of 2.25 to 4.5 liters per customer, with required packaging and tax compliance. Creates or updates brewpub licenses (up to 10,000 barrels per year) with on-premises consumption, off-premises beer sales limits, charitable beer donations, and a $1,000 annual license fee; it also clarifies relationships between manufacturers and brewpubs and other licensing conditions.

Who It Affects

• Brewpubs and licensed manufacturers (breweries, distilleries, and wineries): new or revised off-premises sale allowances, ownership relationships, reporting and recordkeeping requirements, and the potential to donate beer or table wine to nonprofit events.
• Consumers and nonprofit organizations: changes to how much beer or liquor can be bought off-premises from manufacturers, expanded opportunities to purchase table wine, and new options for off-site wine tastings and charitable events.

Key Provisions

• Amends definitions and licensing rules for alcoholic beverages to reflect new off-premises sale provisions and to revise how beer, liquor, and table wine are categorized.
• Authorizes manufacturer licensees producing fewer than 60,000 beer barrels per year to sell beer off-premises at their licensed premises, up to 288,864 ounces per customer per day; includes beer produced by parent, affiliate, or contract breweries in the calculation of the 60,000-barrel limit.
• Authorizes manufacturer licensees to sell off-premises liquor produced at the licensed premises, up to 2.25 to 4.5 liters per customer per day, with required packaging and tax compliance and three-year sales records.
• Creates a brewpub license allowing up to 10,000 barrels of beer per year, with on-premises sale of beer brewed on-site and off-premises sale up to 288,864 ounces per customer per day; allows donation of up to two kegs (31 gallons each) to nonprofit events and imposes a $1,000 annual license fee; requires on-site food service.
• Allows certain manufacturers with up to 60,000 barrels to own a brewpub under specified conditions, but restricts direct transfer of beverages from manufacturer to the brewpub.
• Expands retail sale of table wine through a retail table wine license, enabling on-site and off-site sales under defined terms, including off-site tasting room permits for smaller producers and associated limits.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Alcoholic Beverages