HB 529 - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0839
08/11
HOUSE BILL 529
AN ACT relative to the liquor commission.
SPONSORS: Rep. Grill, Hills. 18; Rep. Alexander Jr., Hills. 29; Rep. Bay, Straf. 21; Rep. Berry, Hills. 44; Rep. Coker, Belk. 2; Rep. A. Murray, Hills. 20; Rep. Osborne, Rock. 2
COMMITTEE: Commerce and Consumer Affairs
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ANALYSIS
This bill:
I. Extends the hours of sales of alcoholic beverages.
II. Allows on-premises licensees to deliver liquor to customers who order a meal for home delivery.
III. Allows on-premises licensees to sell beer in refillable containers and refill such containers with beer.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0839
08/11
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to the liquor commission.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Hours of Sales; Alcoholic Beverages. Amend RSA 179:17, II(a) and (b) to read as follows:
(a) Off-premises licensees may sell from 6:00 a.m. to [11:45 p.m.] 1:00 a.m., 7 days a week.
(b) On-premises licensees may sell from 6:00 a.m. to [1:00 a.m.] 2:00 a.m., 7 days a week. The licensee may sell until [2:00] 3:00 a.m. under conditions authorized by the legislative body of the city or town in which the premises are located if the legislative body adopts an ordinance authorizing such sales.
2 Transportation of Beverages and Wine; Liquor Included. Amend RSA 179:15, III-IV to read as follows:
III.(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph II, an on-premises licensee may purchase a restaurant delivery license from the commission for $250. Such license shall expire one year after the date of issue and may be renewed by an on-premises licensee for $250 each year.
(b) An on-premises licensee in possession of a restaurant delivery license shall only be permitted to transport beverages, liquor, and wines for delivery to consumers subject to the following requirements:
(1) All deliveries of beverages, liquor, and wines shall be accompanied by food prepared by the restaurant delivery licensee and ordered by the consumer;
(2) All deliveries of beverages, liquor, and wine conducted pursuant to this section shall be undertaken during the on-premises licensee's hours of operation and shall be delivered only to areas where the sale of alcoholic beverages is permitted;
(3) All deliveries of beverages, liquor, and wine shall be solely for the personal consumption of the consumer and not for resale;
(4) All beverages and wines transported pursuant to RSA 179:15, II shall be transported in their original, manufactured, sealed containers;
(5) All drinks containing liquor transported pursuant to RSA 179:15, II shall be transported in a sealed container provided by the restaurant delivery licensee. The container shall clearly identify the licensee from which the alcoholic beverage was purchased.
[(5)] (6) Any individual engaged in the delivery of beverages, liquor, and wines pursuant to this section shall be an employee who regularly receives a W-2 from the on-premises licensee and is at least 21 years of age; and
[(6)] (7) During deliveries conducted under this section, the person engaged in making the delivery shall acquire a signed receipt from the consumer. Consumers who appear visibly intoxicated or who a reasonable and prudent person would know are intoxicated, who do not produce identification verifying the consumer's age, or who fail to sign a receipt shall not be entitled to his or her delivery of beverages, liquor, or wine.
(c) No holder of a restaurant delivery license or on-premises license shall deliver any alcoholic beverage to any college, university, or school, whether public or private, located within the state. No holder of a restaurant delivery license or on-premises license shall deliver any alcoholic beverage to any public library, public playground, or public park.
IV. A person holding an on-premises license engaged in take-out services may include beverages, liquor, and wine with meals sold to a consumer for consumption by the consumer and not for resale. The requirements set forth in subparagraph III(b) shall apply to any take-out meal sold with beverages, liquor, or wine.
3 Substitution of Brand; Refilling Bottles. Amend RSA 179:40 to read as follows:
III. Where a licensee is authorized the retail sale of beer in a refillable container, or issued an on-premises license pursuant to RSA 178:13, RSA 178:20, RSA 178:20-a, or RSA 178:21, such licensee, at his sole discretion, may fill such refillable container with his product regardless of the branding on the refillable container.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Jan. 14, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs HJ 3