FILLING & SELLING GROWLERS OF BEER                                                    S.B. 27 (S-1):

                                                                                                      FLOOR SUMMARY

Senate Bill 27 (Substitute S-1 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)

Sponsor:  Senator Dave Hildenbrand

Committee:  Regulatory Reform

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Liquor Control Code to permit an eligible merchant to fill and sell growlers with beer for off-premises consumption, under the following conditions:

-- The place of filling complied with food service establishment requirements under the Food Law. 

-- A growler was sealed and bore a label that included at least the brand name and class of the beer, the net contents, and the name of the retailer that filled the growler.

-- The merchant or his or her agent or employee did not fill a growler before a sale.

-- The merchant, agent, or employee only used containers with a capacity of five gallons or more to fill a growler.

-- The Liquor Control Commission had given the beer a registration number and had approved the beer for sale.

-- The merchant complied with all applicable rules promulgated by the Commission.

The bill would define "growler" as any clean, refillable, resealable container that is exclusively intended, and used only, for the sale of beer for consumption off the premises and that has a liquid capacity of one gallon or less.

"Eligible merchant" would mean a person that holds a specially designated merchant license and a Class C, Tavern, Class A Hotel, Class B Hotel, Club, Class G-1, or Class G-2 license.

(A specially designated merchant may sell beer and wine at retail for consumption off the premises only. A Class C licensee may sell beer, wine, mixed spirit drinks, and spirits at retail for consumption on the premises.  A Tavern licensee may sell beer and wine for on-premises consumption.  A Class A Hotel licensee may sell beer and wine, and a Class B Hotel licensee may sell beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, and spirits, for consumption on the premises and in the rooms of registered guests.  A Club licensee and a Class G-1 licensee may sell beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, and spirits, and a Class G-2 licensee may sell beer and wine, for on-premises consumption only to members, and consumption is limited to members and their guests.)

MCL 436.1537                                                           Legislative Analyst:  Glenn Steffens

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Date Completed:  5-2-13                                                       Fiscal Analyst:  Josh Sefton

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.