The bill introduces two new types of licenses for the sale and storage of alcoholic beverages in Alabama: the event storage license and the government venue license. The event storage license allows holders of specific special event licenses to store alcoholic beverages at a designated facility and transfer them to event venues as needed, with requirements including compliance with existing laws, payment of a license fee, and secure storage. Licensees must also track all transfers and maintain records for three years. The government venue license enables individuals to sell and dispense alcoholic beverages at special events on government-owned properties, also requiring compliance and a license fee.

Additionally, SB312 amends the Code of Alabama 1975 to establish fees for these new licenses, with the government venue license set at $250 and the event storage license at $550. The bill allows holders of special retail licenses to convert to government venue licenses by September 30, 2026, if they meet the requirements. It also revises the fee structure for wholesaler licenses, replacing the previous combined beer and wine license with separate fees for beer wholesaler, wine wholesaler, and a combined option. Outdated provisions regarding license fees are deleted, and it is clarified that counties and municipalities can impose additional taxes or fees on these licenses, but not on liquor stores. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 28-3A-19, 28-3A-20, 28-3A-21, 28-3A-19, 28-3A-19, 28-3A-21, 28-3B-1
Engrossed: 28-3A-21
Enrolled: 28-3A-21