Researcher: DC Page 1 3/4/21
OLR Bill Analysis
SB 265
AN ACT CONCERNING CERTAIN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE
SYSTEMS.
SUMMARY
This bill allows alcoholic liquor permittees authorized to serve
alcohol for on-premises consumption to use a self-pour automated
machine to serve beer, cider with up to 6% alcohol by volume, and
wine.
Under the bill, the automated machine, upon the permittee’s
activation of a payment card, may be operated to dispense beer, cider,
and wine to a (1) permittee’s employee who is authorized to serve
alcohol or (2) person who shows a government-issued identification
card that matches the name on the payment card and is verified to be
age 21 or older by the permittee, or presumably his or her employee.
The permittee or employee must record the verification that the person
is at least age 21.
Under the bill, automated machines cannot dispense a serving of
more than 32 ounces of beer or cider or 10 ounces of wine before the
permittee or employee must reactivate the payment card.
The bill also requires the Department of Consumer Protection to
amend its regulations by October 1, 2021, to (1) allow permittees and
their employees to use automated machines to dispense beer, cider,
and wine pursuant to the bill; (2) ensure that automated machines do
not initially dispense more than one drink at a time; and (3) ensure that
someone is only allowed subsequent automated servings after he or
she substantially disposes of or consumes the previous serving.
Current regulations prohibit using an alcoholic liquor self-service
system, where a customer serves himself or herself, except as allowed
under a hotel guest bar permit (Conn. Agencies Regs., § 30-6-A28(c)). 2021SB-00265-R000013-BA.DOCX
Researcher: DC Page 2 3/4/21
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
COMMITTEE ACTION
General Law Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 18 Nay 1 (02/16/2021)