Bill is designed to help small businesses, promote tourism niche
The General Assembly has passed legislation sponsored by
Rep. Michael A. Morin and Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski to allow breweries and
distilleries to sell limited amounts of their products to visitors for sampling
and off-site consumption. The bill passed the General Assembly and will now go to the governor’s desk.
The sponsors introduced the bill to assist Rhode Island’s growing brewery
and distillery industries and to encourage an increasingly popular segment of
the tourism industry.
“I see this primarily as a way to help small businesses that have some really terrific potential. Getting their products into consumers’ hands is critical if they are going to become known and gain a following. It’s also a way to encourage tourism, since there are enough in each area of the state for enthusiasts to make a day of it, visiting breweries or distilleries, sampling products, and buying some to take home for later. Our laws should encourage the growth of small businesses and new industries, and I’m proud to help make this change,” said Representative Morin (D-Dist. 49, Woonsocket), whose district in Woonsocket is home to Ravenous Brewing Company.
Said Senator Sosnowski, whose district includes the Sons of Liberty
Spirts Company, whose whiskey has won national awards, as well as Whaler’s Brewing
Company and Proclamation Brewing Company, “We are always looking for ways to
encourage our homegrown small businesses, and this is an area where we have a
number of really exciting up-and-coming businesses that would have much better
opportunities to grow if we just bring our laws in line with those of
neighboring states.
Allowing these purchases also opens up a whole new area of
tourism for our state, one that no doubt will economically benefit not only
those businesses, but nearby restaurants, hotels, other businesses and the
state itself. This is a very positive move that will help businesses as well as
giving visitors another reason to come enjoy themselves in Rhode Island.”
Although wineries in Rhode Island are allowed to offer samples and retail
sales of their products, under current law, distilleries and breweries are
banned entirely from selling their products at retail at their plants.
The legislation (2016-H
8100B, 2016-S
3053A) allows breweries and distillers to sell up to 288 ounces of malt
beverages and 750 mL of spirits per day at retail to each visitor for
consumption off the premises, in containers no larger than 72 ounces each.
Additionally, it would enable them to sell up to 36 ounces of malt beverages or
4.5 ounces of distilled spirits per day to each visitor for consumption on the
premises, allowing visitors to sample their products before purchasing. The
limits are designed to allow visitors to sample a variety of products and take
home up to the equivalent of four six-packs of 12-ounce bottles, while also
accommodating growlers, the larger jugs popular among craft beer aficionados.
Both legislators worked closely with the manufacturers in their districts
to craft the legislation.
Dorian Rave, the owner of Ravenous Brewing Company in Woonsocket, said
being able to let visitors sample and leave with his products is critical to
building his brand, and without that ability, it’s hard to attract visitors and
spread awareness of his company.
“We’re a little off the beaten path in Woonsocket, and this gives people
a reason to visit. It gives us the opportunity to provide samples and let the
public try our product to increase knowledge of it,” said Rave. “It also levels
the playing field, since we’re surrounded by states that already allow it.”
Andy Tran, owner and founder of Whaler’s Brewing in Wakefield, said, “The
bill is a step forward for modern small business regulation. It helps both
Whalers and Rhode Island finally grow and be competitive in this dynamic
industry.”
The legislation is cosponsored by Rep. Stephen M. Casey (D-Dist. 50,
Woonsocket), Rep. Jean Philippe Barros (D-Dist. 59, Pawtucket), Rep. Teresa
Tanzi (D-Dist. 34, South Kingstown, Narragansett) and Rep. Kathleen A. Fogarty
(D-Dist. 35, South Kingstown), Sen. Dennis L. Algiere (R-Dist. 38, Westerly,
Charlestown, South Kingstown), Sen. Adam J. Satchell (D-Dist. 9, West Warwick)
and Sen. Maryellen Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence).
Representative Morin added that he wished to thank and commend Rep.
Joseph Solomon (D-Dist. 22, Warwick) for his work on an earlier bill that
closely mirrors the one passed yesterday.