HI SB2712

Expands the definition of "cooler beverage" to include spirit beverage coolers containing distilled spirits and blending materials with less than 12% alcohol by volume, enabling local distilleries to produce ready-to-drink spirits-based beverages.

Eliminates the separate "draft beer" category and applies the lower draft beer tax rate ($0.54 per wine gallon) to all beer regardless of container size, effective July 1, 2018.

Removes the requirement that draft beer be in containers of seven gallons or larger, aligning the tax code with current industry practices for small brewers and alternative packaging.

Maintains existing tax rates for distilled spirits ($5.98), sparkling wine ($2.12), still wine ($1.38), and cooler beverages ($0.85) per wine gallon.

Effective date: July 1, 2050.