Substitute Senate Bill No. 905, Public Act No. 23-103, introduces changes to the laws governing alcoholic liquor permits and tobacco bars. The bill modifies cafe permits to require that food be available for sale during most operating hours, which can be provided by outside vendors or third-party delivery services. It permits the sale of alcoholic beverages at outside tables and allows patrons to take away up to four liters of sealed draught beer for off-premises consumption. Additionally, patrons can remove one unsealed bottle of wine from the premises if they have purchased a full course meal and consumed part of the wine. The definition of "cafe" is expanded to include various establishments, such as those in airports and sports facilities, with an annual permit fee of two thousand dollars. The bill also specifies conditions for golf country clubs to qualify as cafes.

The bill revises the definition of "tobacco bar" to include establishments that generate a significant portion of their income from the sale of tobacco products and humidors, with additional criteria for those that started operations between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2022. It maintains the prohibition of smoking in many public spaces but allows for designated smoking areas in certain circumstances. The bill removes previous restrictions on the expansion or relocation of tobacco bars and clarifies the definition of "tobacco product" to exclude cannabis while reinserting cigarettes and chewing tobacco. It also updates regulations for Connecticut craft cafe permit holders, allowing them to purchase alcoholic liquor for resale from manufacturers or wholesalers with distribution rights, provided such sales do not exceed twenty percent of the permit holder's gross annual sales of all alcoholic liquor sold for on-premises consumption. These changes are effective from July 1, 2023.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 30-1, 30-6a, 30-16, 30-22e, 30-37o, 30-114, 30-115, 29-305, 12-435
GL Joint Favorable Substitute: 30-1, 30-6a, 30-16, 30-22a, 30-22e, 30-37o, 30-114, 30-115, 29-305, 12-433, 12-435
File No. 207: 30-1, 30-6a, 30-16, 30-22a, 30-22e, 30-37o, 30-114, 30-115, 29-305, 12-433, 12-435
FIN Joint Favorable: 30-1, 30-6a, 30-16, 30-22a, 30-22e, 30-37o, 30-114, 30-115, 29-305, 12-433, 12-435
Public Act No. 23-103: 30-22a