House Bill 593 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Andy WhittRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Small Craft Alcoholic Beverage Producers; licensing of small craft distilleries, small craft wineries, and small craft alcoholic beverage producers authorized

Summary

HB593 would create the Alabama Small Craft Alcoholic Beverages Act, adding licenses for small craft distilleries and wineries and a hybrid license to allow multi-operator sites with on-site sales and new delivery options.

What This Bill Does

HB593 expands Alabama's Brewpub law (renamed the Alabama Small Craft Alcoholic Beverages Act) to include new license categories for small craft distilleries and small craft wineries, and creates a new hybrid craft license that can cover brewpubs, distilleries, and wineries on one contiguous site. It allows on-site consumption, guided tours, and tasting samples, and lets licensees host limited off-premises events to sell products for consumption off site. It adds a storage extension option to keep finished or unfinished products away from the main licensed premises. It creates a delivery service license that would let licensed manufacturers and retailers deliver beer, wine, and spirits to customers 21 or older under strict rules, including age checks, driver background checks, and reporting. It sets license fees and directs the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to administer and enforce the act, with an effective date of October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Licensees and applicants (brewpubs, small craft distilleries, and small craft wineries) would gain new licenses, flexibility to operate multi-craft facilities, tours, tastings, and event-based sales, plus storage and hybrid licensing options.
• Consumers and the public (including retailers, wholesalers, event organizers, and patrons) would have more tasting and on-site/off-site purchasing and delivery options, along with age verification, taxation, and reporting requirements; local zoning and dry county rules may affect availability.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Alabama Small Craft Alcoholic Beverages Act with new license categories for small craft distilleries and small craft wineries, plus a hybrid craft complex license.
• Allows on-site consumption, tours, and tastings, and limited off-premises sales at public events, with educational components for tours and tasting caps.
• Allows off-site storage extensions and storage of finished/unfinished goods separate from the main licensed premises.
• Introduces a hybrid craft alcoholic beverage complex license that can operate brewpub, small craft distillery, and small craft winery facilities under one license on a contiguous site.
• Establishes license fees: brewpub, distillery, and winery licenses at $1,000 each; hybrid license at $2,000 (initial $1,000 if converted from an existing license).
• Adds a delivery service license for beer, wine, and spirits to consumers 21+, with strict requirements on age verification, driver qualifications, insurance, training, and reporting.
• Requires the ABC to administer and enforce the act and sets an effective date of October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07 on Mar 10, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco