RI Beer & Liquor Battle Heats Up — Small Businesses vs. Big Behemoths
Monday, February 22, 2021
Titled Barn Brewery compared what other breweries in New England states can sell to customers to consume off-premises -- with RI's current allowance on the right.
On Monday, the House Small Business Committee is hearing several bills, including 2021-H 5255, sponsored by Representative Justine Caldwell, which modifies limitations on quantities of malt beverages and distilled spirits that can be sold at retail by certain licensed breweries and distilleries for off-premises consumption.
"For those that don’t know, Rhode Island only allows breweries to sell one case of beer per person out of their brewery," said the Tilted Barn Brewery. "This is by far the fewest for any state in New England (swipe for a picture of our “bar graph” showing what each state can sell)."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"Restrictions such as this make it very difficult for small businesses like ours to grow, create more jobs, and help to stimulate the local economy," they added. "Especially during these difficult times when we have all been forced to adopt a take-out and to-go model but are limited by how much we can sell."
Call for Increase
Specifically, Caldwell's legislation addresses how much can be sold from local distilleries for off-premises consumption, striking the current provision that licenses currently limit off-premises consumption in an amount not in excess of twenty-four twelve-ounce bottles or cans or twenty-four sixteen-ounce bottles or cans of malt beverages, or seven hundred fifty milliliters.
The legislation would still allow for one case or equivalent or one and three-quarters liters of distilled spirits per visitor, per day, to be sold -- but with the following exceptions.
The bill also adds that brewers manufacturing less than seven thousand five hundred barrels per year shall be able to sell not more than ten cases or equivalent per person, per day; distilleries manufacturing less than seven thousand five hundred gallons per year shall be able to sell not more than ten liters per person, per day; and distilleries manufacturing less than fifteen thousand gallons per year shall be able to sell not more than five liters per person, per day.
This is not the first time the issue has come up in Rhode Island -- in 2019, Senator Walter Felag appeared on GoLocal LIVE to explain his support for similar legislation in the Senate.
The small brewers and distillers face strong opposition from the large national distributors, which are a powerful force at the Rhode Island State House.
A proposal by Representative David Place addressing the total amount a brewery, winery, or distillery can sell is on the agenda as well.
Tilted Barn’s Message
The brewery posted the following on Sunday.
So what needs to be done you ask? There is a hearing scheduled for Monday, February 22nd at 4:00 for House Bill 5255 that would increase the amount of beer small breweries in RI can sell and we could use your support!
There are groups that oppose this legislation and we need our local Senators and Representatives to know that there is strong support for this Bill. A number of breweries will be speaking in support or providing written support and you should too! Let’s show our elected officials how we feel.
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