Panel approves changes to retail tasting permits, lowers fees and adjusts serving sizes

Senator Clem Penzo (District 31) presented House Bill 1380 to amend the retail tasting statutory framework. Penzo said the bill makes three main changes: it would permit wholesaler or manufacturer representatives to pour samples at in-store educational tastings; it would reduce the combination tasting permit fee from $1,000 to $500 and set single-alcohol tasting permits at $250; and it would adjust tasting serving sizes (spirits to 2 ounces, wine to 6 ounces, beer to 8 ounces) while limiting a tasting to one alcohol type per event.

Penzo told the committee the changes are aimed at increasing flexibility for retailers and wholesalers and at making the permit fee structure less burdensome; he said the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) scored the bill as having no fiscal impact. Committee members asked operational questions, including whether samples would be available at the hearing and who would monitor compliance. Michael Lewis, interim director at the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), said ABC administration and ABC enforcement would be responsible for monitoring samples and that enforcement conducts compliance checks and gathers industry reports when issues arise.

The sponsor said the bill also gives ABC discretion for minor violations (may revoke rather than mandatory revocation) and clarifies microbrewery/private-club parity in other contexts. No witnesses registered opposition at the hearing. The committee closed debate and approved the bill by voice vote.