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Committee adopts substitute to create educational tourism distillery license and new mixed‑beverage category (7% ABV cap)
Summary
A substitute bill combining educational tourism distillery licensing with a new low‑alcohol mixed beverage category (7% alcohol‑by‑volume cap) and tax/franchise provisions was adopted and reported favorably by committee.
A substitute to Senate Bill 316 that creates an educational tourism distillery license and adds a new licensure category for mixed shared beverages advanced from committee after extended discussion.
Senator Singleton explained the substitute amends SB 316 to include licensing for educational tourism distilleries and a new license category for mixed shared beverages with alcohol‑by‑volume capped at 7 percent. The substitute also creates distribution allowances for existing beer and wine wholesalers, authorizes on‑premises retail consumption and includes an excise and privilege tax on the new mixed beverages. The substitute contains franchise‑agreement requirements, the sponsor said.
Members discussed concerns raised during an earlier public hearing, including that the original draft appeared focused on a single distillery. The sponsor said smaller distillers and distributors had been consulted and were generally supportive of forming a distillery trail in future years. Committee members also discussed lowering volume thresholds to include more small producers in future sessions; the sponsor said he would work with smaller producers next year.
The committee adopted the substitute and gave SB 316 a favorable report. No roll‑call tally appears in the transcript; members voiced “aye” with no recorded opposition.
