Brief Description: Concerning alcohol content in food products and confections.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Williams and Blake).

House Committee on Commerce & Labor
Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development

Background:

Confections and food products containing not more than 1 percent alcohol by weight are unregulated by the Liquor Control Board (Board) and may be sold and manufactured without a liquor license. The product must have a label stating "This product contains liquor and the alcohol content is 1 percent or less of the weight of the product." Retailers are not allowed to sell food products and confections with more than 1 percent alcohol, such as liqueur-filled chocolates. The Board, however, sells a small number of confections with an alcohol content up to 12 percent in some state liquor stores.

Confections that contain more than 1 percent alcohol by weight are considered to be adulterated food.

The Board issues a number of types of liquor licenses. A grocery store license allows the sale of beer and/or wine for consumption off the premises. A snack bar license allows the sale of beer for on-premises consumption. By rule, the Board requires snack bar licensees to have food available.

Summary:

A grocery store licensed by the Board with a snack bar license may receive an endorsement from the Board to sell confections containing more than 1 percent but not more than 10 percent alcohol by weight to persons 21 or older. "Confection" is defined as a preparation of sugar, honey, or other natural or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruits, nuts, dairy products, or flavorings, in the form of bars, drops, or pieces.

The adulterated food provisions are modified to exclude confections sold under the endorsement.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   97   0
Senate   47   0

Effective: July 22, 2007