HB568 Summary

• Authorizes the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to issue wine festival licenses to wineries manufacturing at least 500 gallons of table wine annually, retailers, grape grower organizations, municipalities, counties, and arts councils upon application with at least 25 days advance notice and a fee not to exceed $50.

• Permits wine festival participant licensees to dispense tastings and sell wine for on-premises or off-premises consumption to individuals physically present at the festival, with off-premises sales limited to one case per person and must be sealed and labeled per state law.

• Restricts wine festivals to operate no more than five consecutive days and prohibits Sunday sales in counties or municipalities that have not authorized alcoholic beverage sales on Sundays.

• Waives wine festival license fees when the festival takes place entirely on winery premises and requires all participants to collect and remit applicable state and local sales, excise, and other taxes.

• Becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and approval by the Governor, maintaining Alabama's three-tier alcoholic beverage control system.