SB 597

Under current law, with limited exceptions, no person may sell alcohol

beverages to a consumer unless the seller possesses a license or permit authorizing

the sale. Current law allows a winery to hold a "Class A" retail license or a "Class

B" retail license. A "Class A" license authorizes the retail sale of intoxicating liquor

(wine and distilled spirits) for consumption off the premises in original packages and

containers. A "Class B" license issued to a winery authorizes the retail sale of wine

to be consumed by the glass or in opened containers on the licensed premises and

authorizes the retail sale of wine in the original package or container to be consumed

off the licensed premises. A winery operating under a retail "Class B" license may

not remain open for retail sales of wine between the hours of 9 p.m. and 8 a.m.

This bill changes the closing hour for wineries operating under a retail "Class

B" license from 9 p.m. to midnight and prohibits municipalities from establishing,

by ordinance, more restrictive closing hours for these wineries.

Under current law, with the exception of a winery, a person may not obtain a

"Class B" license authorizing the retail sale of intoxicating liquor unless the person

also holds a Class "B" license authorizing the retail sale of fermented malt beverages

(beer). With exceptions, a person may not possess on Class "B" licensed premises any

alcohol beverages not authorized for sale on the premises. Under one exception, a

Class "B" licensee may allow a person to possess and consume on the licensed

premises beer not purchased from the licensee (often referred to as a "carry-in") if

the licensed premises are located in a public park in the city of Milwaukee. A similar

provision specifies that a "Class B" licensee may allow carry-ins of intoxicating

liquor if the licensed premises are located in a public park in the city of Milwaukee.

Current law also prohibits a retail licensee from purchasing intoxicating liquor or

beer from, or possessing intoxicating liquor or beer purchased from, any person other

than a wholesaler.

This bill specifies that a winery holding a retail "Class B" license may allow

carry-ins of distilled spirits and beer on the winery's retail premises by a person who

has contracted to rent any part of the retail premises (host) for a special event such

as a wedding reception. The winery may possess these carried-in distilled spirits

and beer and only the winery can serve these carried-in distilled spirits and beer to

persons attending the special event. The winery may not charge the host any fee for

being allowed to carry in distilled spirits or beer.