SB167 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Andrew JonesSenator

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Will BarfootDel MarshRandy PriceLarry StuttsTom Whatley

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

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

Summary

SB167 adds a new license to authorize wine festivals and participants, allowing tastings and wine sales at festivals under ABC Board rules.

What This Bill Does

It creates two license types: a wine festival license for eligible wine makers and certain groups to host a festival, and a wine festival participant license for retailers or manufacturers to participate. These licenses let licensees offer tastings and sell wine at retail to festival attendees for on- or off-premises consumption, with rules like limits on how much can be purchased and requirements to seal or label wine sold off-site. The bill also sets festival duration (up to five days), requires tax collection by licensees, allows food service with compliance, and requires the ABC Board to adopt implementing rules; it includes Sunday sale restrictions in counties without Sunday alcohol sales and provides fee and waiver provisions for on-premises winery-hosted events.

Who It Affects

• Wineries/manufacturers producing at least 500 gallons of table wine annually (eligible for a wine festival license to host festivals).
• Retailers licensed for off-premises wine sales (eligible for a wine festival participant license to dispense tastings and sell at festivals).
• Organizations of grape growers, wineries, or grape/winery associations; municipalities; counties; arts councils; main street programs; downtown development entities (eligible license recipients).
• Festival attendees (could taste and purchase wine at festivals under license terms).

Key Provisions

• Adds Section 28-3A-20.4 creating licensing for wine festivals and wine festival participants; licenses issued by the ABC Board with forms and rules.
• Wine festival license available to eligible entities (manufacturers with at least 500 gallons/year, retailers, grower/winery organizations, and certain municipalities and organizations) with up to a $50 fee and at least 25 days’ lead time; festival may last up to five consecutive days.
• Wine festival participant license available to eligible retailers or manufacturers with at least 500 gallons/year, with up to a $15 fee and at least 15 days’ lead time; allows tastings and on- or off-premises retail sale to attendees.
• Wine sold off-premises must be sealed, labeled, and packaged according to laws; no more than one case (12 bottles of 750 ml each) may be sold to a single person per festival.
• Sales at festivals may be for on- or off-premises consumption and for personal use, not resale; Sunday sales limited by local restrictions where applicable.
• If the festival is conducted entirely on the premises of the licensed winery or a member winery, the board may waive the license fees for that festival.
• Licensees must collect and remit all state and local taxes on wine sold at the festival.
• Food service at licensed festivals is allowed if done in compliance with all laws and rules.
• The ABC Board may adopt rules implementing the section, including liability provisions for licensees.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and 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