FILLING & SELLING GROWLERS OF BEER                                                  S.B. 973 (S-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 973 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor:  Senator Dave Hildenbrand

Committee:  Regulatory Reform

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Liquor Control Code to allow a person holding a specially designated merchant license and a specially designated distributor license to fill and sell growlers with beer for off-premises consumption.

The Code allows eligible merchants to fill and sell growlers with beer for off-premises consumption under the following conditions:

-- The premises where the filling of growlers takes place comply with the requirements for food service establishments under the Food Law.

-- The growler is sealed and has a label affixed to it that includes at least the brand name and class of the beer, the net contents of the container, and the name of the retailer filling the growler.

-- The eligible merchant or the merchant's agent or employee does not fill a growler in advance of the sale.

-- The eligible merchant or the merchant's agent or employee uses only containers that have a capacity of five gallons or more to fill a growler.

-- The beer to be dispensed has received a registration number from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission and has been approved for sale by the Commission.

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

For this purpose, the Code defines "eligible merchant" as 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. Under the bill, the term would mean a person that holds a specially designated merchant license and either a specially designated distributor license or one of the other licenses listed.

The Code defines "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 that does not exceed one gallon.

MCL 436.1537                                                         Legislative Analyst:  Drew Krogulecki

FISCAL IMPACT

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

Date Completed:  11-10-16                                                    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.