Researcher: DC Page 1 3/24/21
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 5306
AN ACT ALLOWING CERTAIN PERMITTEES TO SELL
ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR FOR OFF -PREMISES CONSUMPTION.
SUMMARY
This bill allows, for three years following the bill’s effective date,
certain alcohol permittees to sell and deliver alcoholic liquor (e.g., beer,
wine, or spirits) for off-premises consumption that they currently sell
for on-premises consumption. The permittees are manufacturers, when
they are not selling their own product; hotels; restaurants; and cafes,
including those that are deemed cafes because of their status under the
prior golf country club, club, or nonprofit club permits. The bill
specifies that sales must be consistent with all local ordinances where
the premises is located.
The bill requires any such alcoholic liquor sold for off-premises
consumption to be accompanied by food. Except for manufacturers,
permittees may use a container other than the manufacturer’s original
sealed container but must make sure it is securely sealed.
By law, manufacturer permittees may already sell their own
product for off-premises consumption under certain conditions. The
bill allows them to deliver their products and specifically allows them
to do so without food.
The bill allows sales and deliveries only during the hours package
stores may operate under state law (see BACKGROUND). The
permittee’s direct employee must make the deliveries unless the third-
party vendor or entity holds an in-state transporter permit.
The bill limits the amounts hotel and restaurant permittees may sell
each customer per order to 196 ounces for beer, one liter for spirits, and
1.5 liters for wine. 2021HB-05306-R000117-BA.DOCX
Researcher: DC Page 2 3/24/21
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
SECURELY SEALED CONTAINERS
Except for manufacturer permittees, the bill allows the alcoholic
liquor to be sold and delivered in containers other than the
manufacturer’s original sealed container.
Under the bill, the alcoholic liquor must be given to the consumer in
a securely sealed container that prevents consumption without
removing the tamper-evident lid, cap, or seal. The bill specifies a
securely sealed container does not include one with a lid with sipping
holes or openings for straws. It also requires the permittee’s agent or
employee to place each securely sealed container into a bag before
leaving the permit premises.
Under the bill, a sealed container is not deemed an open container,
as long as the (1) container is unopened and the seal has not been
tampered with and (2) contents have not been partially removed.
MANUFACTURER PERMITT EES
Under the bill, manufacturer permittees are subject to the same
limits for off-premises consumption as the amount they may sell at
retail from their premises under existing law. By law, for each
consumer, manufacturer permittees for (1) spirits that produce less
than 50,000 gallons may sell up to three liters per day but not more
than five gallons in any two-month period and (2) beer may sell up to
nine gallons per day. There is no limit for permittees of (1) a farm
winery or (2) wine, cider, and mead.
BACKGROUND
Package Store Hours
By law, package stores may sell between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on
Sundays and 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Sales
are also prohibited on Thanksgiving Day, New Year’s Day, and
Christmas (CGS § 30-91(d)).
COMMITTEE ACTION 2021HB-05306-R000117-BA.DOCX
Researcher: DC Page 3 3/24/21
General Law Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 17 Nay 2 (03/09/2021)