HB568 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Becky Nordgren

Republican

Co-Sponsors

K.L. BrownTerri Collins

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

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

Summary

HB568 would authorize wine festivals in Alabama with ABC Board licenses that let participating licensees taste and sell wine for on- and off-premises consumption.

What This Bill Does

The bill creates a framework for licensed wine festivals where approved licensees can provide tastings and sell wine to festival attendees for on-site or take-home use. It designates eligible hosts (wineries producing at least 500 gallons yearly, retailers, grape-grower/winery organizations, municipalities, counties, and certain local development or arts groups) to obtain festival licenses. It also sets rules on duration (up to five days), license fees, and the need for participant licenses for retailers and manufacturers, plus requirements for packaging, taxation, and food service, while preserving the state’s three-tier system and allowing regulatory rules to be issued by the ABC Board.

Who It Affects

• Wineries producing at least 500 gallons of table wine annually: eligible to obtain a wine festival license to host events and sell/taste wine at the festival.
• Retailers licensed for off-premises sale of table wine: eligible to receive a wine festival participant license to sell and allow tastings at the festival.
• Organizations comprised entirely of grape growers, wineries, or both: eligible to host a wine festival.
• Municipalities and counties: eligible to host a wine festival.
• Incorporated arts councils, main street programs, or downtown development entities: eligible to host a wine festival.
• Festival attendees/consumers: can purchase and taste wine at the festival, with limits on cases per person and requirements to follow packaging, tax, and local laws.
• ABC Board and local regulators: responsible for issuing licenses, setting rules, and enforcing compliance.

Key Provisions

• Adds new license type 28-3A-20.4 allowing a wine festival license for eligible licensees (manufacturers producing at least 500 gallons annually, retailers, grape grower/winery organizations, municipalities, counties, or specific local development entities) with terms set by rule.
• Wine festival license to host a festival where festival licensees may dispense tastings and sell wine for on-premises or off-premises consumption, for personal use and not resale.
• Festival may operate for up to five consecutive days; festival participant licenses require 15 days' advance notice and up to $15 fee, allowing tastings and retail sales at the festival.
• Off-premises wine sales at the festival must be sealed and packaged according to law; no more than one case of wine can be sold to any individual per festival (one case = 12 750-ml bottles).
• Sunday sales restrictions apply in counties or municipalities that have not authorized alcohol sales on Sundays; there is a fee waiver for festivals conducted entirely on a host winery’s premises; licensees must collect and remit applicable taxes.
• Board may adopt implementing rules, including liability considerations; food service at festivals is permitted within other applicable laws; festival licensing is designed to preserve Alabama’s three-tier regulatory system.

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