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Sponsor and business groups spar over extended liquor hours, to-go cocktails and delivery at HB529 hearing
Summary
A public hearing on HB529 produced split testimony: the sponsor said later hours, to-go cocktails and limited delivery will help New Hampshire's hospitality economy, while enforcement officials and industry groups cited safety, sanitation and enforcement costs as reasons to narrow the proposal.
The House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 529, a broad change to liquor statutes that would (1) extend statewide last-call for on-premise alcohol service from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m., allow municipalities to authorize a 3 a.m. last call by local vote; (2) extend permitted in-store sales hours to 1 a.m.; (3) allow licensed on-premise establishments to sell premixed cocktails to go; (4) permit restaurants to refill or top off customer-supplied containers (for example, growlers) and (5) allow licensed on-premise staff to deliver alcohol with meals (subject to licensing and ID checks under the sponsor's draft).
Sponsor Representative Grill opened by arguing the bill would help New Hampshire retain young residents and boost tourism and special events. "HB 5 29 will align our liquor laws more closely with our neighbors, while making our state more competitive," she said, and noted that 27 states have permanently…
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