HB71 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ed OliverRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Community development districts, entertainment districts, establishment authorized under certain conditions, Sec. 35-8B-3 am'd.

Summary

HB71 lets certain Alabama community development districts create entertainment districts where alcohol can be sold and consumed, with open containers allowed inside the district under set rules.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes a district’s board of control to approve sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages within the district for on-premises consumption, including club-based sales to members and their guests. It allows the district to establish an entertainment district within its boundaries (up to 0.5 mile by 0.5 mile) where patrons may exit licensed premises with open containers anywhere inside the entertainment district. It requires referendums to authorize seven-days-a-week alcohol sales in some cases, with procedures for municipal or county-wide elections and related costs, and sets geographic restrictions such as a 3,000-foot limit from highway rights-of-way. It designates entertainment districts through the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board for eligible retailers and manufacturers, with rules that open-container rights apply only within the entertainment district and do not extend the licensed premises boundaries.

Who It Affects

• Residents and visitors in qualifying community development districts, who may experience new entertainment districts and changes in where alcohol can be sold and consumed.
• Alcohol licensees and clubs within these districts, who may obtain club licenses or entertainment district designations and must follow the new on-premises and entertainment-district rules, including open-container allowances.

Key Provisions

• Majority district board approval allows selling/distributing alcoholic beverages within the district for on-premises consumption at clubs, with clubs obtaining a club liquor retail license and a consent certificate from the district's board.
• If approved for seven days a week, any district licensee may sell alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption within the district.
• If approved for seven days a week with a referendum, a municipal or county-wide vote determines authorization; outcomes affect whether sales are allowed and may require election costs to be paid by the municipality or county.
• The district may establish an entertainment district within its boundaries (not exceeding 0.5 mile by 0.5 mile), designated by the ABC Board for eligible retailers and manufacturers.
• Patrons may exit licensed premises with open containers anywhere within the entertainment district, though this does not extend the licensed premises' physical boundaries.
• On-premises consumption within the entertainment district is defined to include anywhere inside the district, regardless of licensure terms, and the open-container permission applies only inside the district.
• If a district is within municipal limits, or not entirely within them, appropriate referendum procedures apply, including notice and timing, to authorize sales.
• Sales must not occur within 3,000 feet of the south right-of-way of adjacent state or federal highways for districts defined in the noted provisions.

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