Substitute House Bill No. 6548 introduces a range of amendments to the laws governing alcoholic beverages in Connecticut. The bill revises definitions for terms such as "airline," "alcohol," "alcoholic beverage," "beer," "boat," "case price," and adds a new definition for "noncommercial entity." It also establishes provisions for alternating proprietorship agreements between host and tenant manufacturers, specifying the responsibilities of each party. The bill outlines the process and limitations for temporary auction permits, allowing auctioneers to sell beer, spirits, and wine from individual collectors or certain permit holders, and introduces a new outdoor open-air permit for the retail sale of alcoholic liquor in outdoor spaces. Furthermore, the bill expands the Department of Consumer Protection's authority to enforce sanitary conditions, proper conduct, and protect the public against fraud or overcharge, and requires the Department to amend regulations to allow for self-pour automated systems and to provide for the cleaning and rinsing of beer or wine pipe lines.

The bill also modifies the laws related to manufacturer permits for spirits, beer, and farm wineries, allowing for sales and free tastings at farmers' markets and direct shipment to consumers with certain restrictions. It sets requirements for shipping wine to consumers, including age verification and sales limits, and allows farm wineries to sell wine from other farm wineries and brandy made from state-harvested fruit. The bill mandates clear advertising of liquor permit numbers for online sales, increases the annual fee for certain manufacturer permits, and repeals and replaces various sections of the general statutes related to off-site sales, outdoor permits, and temporary liquor permits for noncommercial entities. Additionally, it addresses the issuance of various permits, the filing of remonstrances, permit renewals, and false statements in permit applications. It also amends the application process for live entertainment venues and sets conditions for ownership of multiple permit classes. Finally, the bill establishes penalties for keg possession without identification tags and for providing false information when purchasing kegs, and directs the Liquor Control Commission to study the potential impact of requiring liquor liability insurance for permit applicants and renewals. Sections 30-25, 30-37b, 30-37d, and 30-37h of the general statutes are repealed by this bill.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 30-1, 30-35, 30-39, 30-48, 30-55, 30-76a, 30-114
GL Joint Favorable Substitute: 30-1, 30-35, 30-39, 30-48, 30-76a, 30-114
File No. 118: 30-1, 30-35, 30-39, 30-48, 30-76a, 30-114
File No. 780: 30-1, 30-6a, 30-16, 30-22e, 30-35, 30-37o, 30-39, 30-48, 30-76a, 30-114, 30-115, 29-305
Public Act No. 23-50: 30-1, 30-6a, 30-16, 30-22e, 30-35, 30-37o, 30-39, 30-48, 30-76a, 30-114, 30-115, 29-305