Cheers, I hope

Wine Bill Back on Market Tables

By TIM FAULKNER/ecoRI.org News staff

PROVIDENCE — A bill (pdf) allowing wine and beer sales at farmers markets is getting play in the General Assembly. On June 7, the House Committee on Corporations approved the legislation, but without an allowance for beer sales, which was in the original version of the bill when it was introduced in February. The Rhode Island Beverage Association has opposed the bill, but did not testify against it last week.

Rep . Teresa Tanzi, D-South Kingstown/Narragansett, co-sponsponsered the legislation because of a 2011 Massachusetts report (pdf) that showed wine sales at farmers markets boosted sales for local vineyards by 66 percent. Massachusetts approved wine sales at farmers markets in 2010.

A separate bill (pdf) was voted out of committee allowing liquor stores to offer tastings of liquor and cordials.

Both bills are scheduled for a vote in the House on June 12. The General Assembly is expected to finish the 2012 session by June 15.