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Senate committee approves bill to make liquor-store delivery permanent
Summary
The committee advanced Sen. Jane English’s bill to allow retail liquor permit holders to deliver alcohol to legal-age residents after the pandemic; ABC director said rules will require deliveries be made to someone 21 or older in wet counties and that permit-holders keep delivery records, with fines for violations.
Sen. Jane English told the City, County & Local Affairs Committee she is sponsoring a bill, urged by retail liquor-store owners, to make permanent the ability of retail liquor permit holders to deliver alcohol to a purchaser’s residence. "One of the things that was an emergency order... was the ability for liquor stores to deliver," English said, and the bill would keep that capability beyond the pandemic.
Committee members asked about scope. Sen. Hammer sought to confirm the measure excludes grocery stores and third-party delivery. English replied: "No third party... So only a liquor store who has legally responsible, and has a person... when you order, you have to give them your driver's license and all that." She said grocery stores and third-party couriers would not be covered.
Dorely Chandler, ABC director, told senators that rulemaking implementing the bill would require delivery to someone 21 years of age in a wet county and permit the agency to mandate recordkeeping of recipient age and delivery address; addresses will also be maintained for tax purposes. "That provision would allow us to implement... rules that would mandate records indicating that the person is 21 years of age... as well as requiring an address for that delivery," Chandler said.
On penalties, Chandler said permit-holder violations would be a class A violation carrying a $500 fine and probation, with a second offense allowing fines up to $1,000; a driver who knowingly delivered to a minor could face criminal liability. "So that would be a class a violation for the permit holder themselves... a $500 fine... The second offense, it would allows us to double that fine up to a thousand dollars," she said.
Senators also asked about practical safeguards (re-checking ID at delivery, photographic documentation) and Chandler said ABC would require stores to maintain proof of delivery to someone over 21, while specifics of documentation would be left to individual businesses or recommended practices. With no public opposition recorded, the committee moved, seconded, and approved the bill by voice vote.
