Senate Bill 2828 Summary

• Authorizes private entities to become wine distributors by issuing wine distributor's permits through the Department of Revenue, with an annual privilege license tax of $1,800.00.

• Wine distributors may purchase wine from manufacturers or importers, transport and store wine in private bonded warehouses, and sell wholesale to authorized retail permittees.

• Imposes excise tax and 3% markup on wine sold by wine distributors, with collections remitted to the Department of Revenue by the 15th of the following month.

• Requires wine distributors to maintain order records for three years subject to inspection, deliver wine within three days of order receipt, and prohibits them from having financial interest in retail premises where alcoholic beverages are sold.

• Wine distributors may be required to post bonds up to $100,000 and operators transporting wine must carry invoices issued by the wine distributor; effective July 1, 2010.