SB337 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tom Whatley

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Alcoholic beverage licenses, Hospitality Management Program license created at certain state universities, activities under license authorized

Summary

SB337 would create a new Hospitality Management Program license allowing certain Alabama public universities to produce, transfer, and sell alcoholic beverages on campus to support their hospitality programs, under ABC regulation.

What This Bill Does

It creates a new Hospitality Management Program license issued by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board for state universities with hospitality-related degree programs, and may be held by the university or a contracted third party. The license allows on-campus production facilities (distilleries, wineries, breweries, or brewpubs) and on-campus retail sales, with beverages also usable for teaching purposes. It enables teaching activities (classes, labs, seminars) on licensed premises, and may permit distribution or storage arrangements on campus in coordination with the ABC. The bill sets terms including tax rules, a $1,000 annual license fee, and limits such as a 60,000-barrel-per-year beer production cap and an 864-ounce-per-customer-per-day limit on off-premises beer, along with training and signage requirements; the act would take effect immediately upon governor's signature.

Who It Affects

• Public state universities in Alabama that offer hospitality-related degree programs (and any third-party licensee contracted with them) by potentially obtaining and operating the new license to run on-campus alcohol production and sale for academic purposes.
• Students, interns, and employees on campus, and the broader campus community, who participate in or are affected by on-campus alcohol-related activities and must follow training, age restrictions, and campus rules.

Key Provisions

• Creates a Hospitality Management Program license under the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board for eligible state universities with hospitality-related programs, to produce, transfer, and sell alcohol on campus for academic purposes.
• Eligibility and administration: universities must meet specified criteria; applications require a certificate from the university president, and two-year institutions require the Chancellor's signature; license may be issued to the university or a contracted third party.
• Authorized activities: operate on-campus distilleries, wineries, breweries, or brewpubs; sell alcohol on campus or use it for teaching; conduct classes and labs on the licensed premises or adjacent board-licensed premises; lease space to the ABC for distribution/storage within the campus; purchase alcohol from the ABC or through board approvals; sell beverages on premises daily, including Sundays, within the licensed area.
• Limitations and requirements: cannot manufacture 60,000+ beer barrels per year on the licensed premises; off-premises beer sales limited to 864 ounces per customer per day; taxes apply as specified by state law; maintain Responsible Vendor training records; post 21+ warnings at locations serving alcohol; licensee not required to obtain other ABC licenses; annual license fee of $1,000; effective immediately after the governor's signature.

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