BILL NUMBER:  S2481

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the alcoholic beverage control law,
in relation to the tastings of and selling at retail for consumption
on or off the premises of certain beverages

 PURPOSE :

To create parity in the licenses of the farm based beverage sector for
on-premises consumption

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Allows class D distilleries (also known as farm distilleries) to
conduct tastings of and sell at retail for consumption on premises:

- New York State labelled beer manufactured by a licensed brewer or
farm brewery;

- New York State labelled cider manufactured by a licensed brewer,
farm brewery, farm winery, cider producer or farm cidery;

-New York State labelled wine manufactured by a licensed winery or
farm winery.

 EXISTING LAW :
              

Current law permits farm wineries, farm breweries, and farm cideries
to sell and offer for tastings New York State-labelled beer, wine,
cider, and spirits by the glass at their premises. New York State Farm
distilleries are not allowed to provide this service.

 JUSTIFICATION :

The farm-based beverage sector has shared interests, yet there is a
lack of consistency and parity among the various farm-based licenses.
Cross-promotion is critical to the success of these businesses as well
as to the value they add to the agricultural sector. Current law
permits farm wineries, farm breweries, and farm cideries to offer
tastings of and sell NYS-labelled beer, wine, cider, and spirits by
the glass at their premises thereby cross-promoting New York made
products. Under a farm distiller's license, the licensee cannot
reciprocate sales of New York wine, New York cider, and New York beer
by the glass or conduct tastings of New York wine, beer or cider.
Cross-promotion opportunities by farm distiller licensees are thereby
limited. Parity in these provisions is necessary to continue to
promote New York farm sector beverages and to support economic growth
for New York State agriculture.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

This is a new bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE : a
Immediately.