2025 -- H 5885
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LC001749
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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A N A C T
RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES
Introduced By: Representatives Casey, Phillips, J. Brien, and Chippendale
Date Introduced: February 28, 2025
Referred To: House Small Business
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 3-7-14.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 3-7 entitled "Retail 1
Licenses" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
3-7-14.2. Class P licenses — Caterers. 3
(a) A caterer licensed by the department of health and the division of taxation shall be 4
eligible to apply for a Class P license from the department of business regulation. The department 5
of business regulation is authorized to issue all caterers’ licenses. The license will be valid 6
throughout this state as a state license and no further license will be required or tax imposed by any 7
city or town upon this alcoholic beverage privilege. Each caterer to which the license is issued shall 8
pay to the department of business regulation an annual fee of five hundred dollars ($500) for the 9
license, which fees are paid into the state treasury. The department is authorized to promulgate 10
rules and regulations for the implementation of this license. In promulgating said rules, the 11
department shall include, but is not limited to, the following standards: 12
(1) Proper identification will be required for individuals who look thirty (30) years old or 13
younger and who are ordering alcoholic beverages; 14
(2) Only valid ID’s as defined by these titles are acceptable; 15
(3) An individual may not be served more than two (2) drinks at a time; 16
(4) Licensees, their agents, or employees will not serve visibly intoxicated individuals; 17
(5) Licensees may only serve alcoholic beverages for no more than a five-hour (5) period 18
per event; 19
LC001749 - Page 2 of 3
(6) Only a licensee, or its employees, may serve alcoholic beverages at the event; 1
(7) The licensee will deliver and remove alcoholic beverages to the event, unless provided 2
by the event host at their residence and the alcohol is under the control of the caterer for the entire 3
period of time the caterer is onsite; and 4
(8) No shots or triple alcoholic drinks will be served. 5
(b) Any bartender employed by the licensee shall be certified by a nationally recognized 6
alcohol beverage server training program. 7
(c) The licensee shall purchase at retail or wholesale all alcoholic beverages from a licensed 8
Class A alcohol retail or wholesale establishment which is located in the state, provided, however, 9
any licensee who also holds a Class B license, issued pursuant to the provisions of § 3-7-7, shall be 10
allowed to purchase alcoholic beverages at wholesale. Wholesalers may refuse to fulfill orders 11
permitted under this section, or may set minimum quantities or dollar values per order. Any person 12
violating this section shall be fined five hundred dollars ($500) for this violation and shall be subject 13
to license revocation. The provisions of this section shall be enforced in accordance with this title. 14
(d) Violation of subsection (a) of this section is punishable upon conviction by a fine of 15
not more than five hundred dollars ($500). Fines imposed under this section shall be paid to the 16
department of business regulation. 17
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 18
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES
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This act would allow holders of a Class P license to purchase alcoholic beverages from 1
either a retail or wholesale establishment in the State of Rhode Island and allow wholesalers to 2
refuse to fulfill orders permitted under this section, or set minimum quantities or dollar values per 3
order. It would also permit caterers to serve and leave an event host's alcoholic beverages at their 4
residence so long as it is under the caterer's control for the entirety of the event. 5
This act would take effect upon passage. 6
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