MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Finance
By: Senator(s) Dawkins
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 67-3-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE PERMISSIBLE ALCOHOLIC CONTENT OF BEER FROM 5% OF ALCOHOL BY WEIGHT TO 17% OF ALCOHOL BY WEIGHT; TO AMEND SECTION 67-3-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT EVERY PERSON SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE HOMEMADE BEER FOR DOMESTIC OR HOUSEHOLD USE ONLY; TO AMEND SECTIONS 67-1-5, 67-3-1, 67-3-5, 67-3-7, 67-3-9, 67-3-13, 67-3-17, 67-3-28, 67-3-49, 67-3-53 AND 27-71-509, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 67-3-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-3-3. When used in this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise:
(a) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Revenue of the Department of Revenue of the State of Mississippi, and his authorized agents and employees;
(b) "Person" means one or more persons, a company, a corporation, a partnership, a syndicate or an association;
(c) "Manufacturer" and "retailer" include brewpubs licensed pursuant to Article 3, Chapter 71, Title 27, Mississippi Code of 1972, unless otherwise clearly provided; * * *
(d) "Beer" means a malt beverage as defined in the Federal Alcohol Administration Act and any rules and regulations adopted pursuant to such act of an alcoholic content of not more than seventeen percent (17%) by weight; and
(e) "Light wine" means wine of an alcoholic content of not more than five percent (5%) by weight.
SECTION 2. Section 67-3-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-3-11. Every person shall have the right to make homemade wine and beer for domestic or household uses only, free of all restraint by this chapter or otherwise, and no such election as provided for in Sections 67-3-7, 67-3-9 and 67-3-13, shall deprive any person of the right to make homemade wine or beer for domestic or household uses only.
SECTION 3. Section 67-1-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-5. For the purposes of this chapter and unless otherwise required by the context:
(a) "Alcoholic beverage" means any alcoholic liquid, including wines of more than five percent (5%) of alcohol by weight, capable of being consumed as a beverage by a human being, but shall not include light wine * * * and * * * beer * * *, as defined for in Section 67-3-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, but shall include native wines. The words "alcoholic beverage" shall not include ethyl alcohol manufactured or distilled solely for fuel purposes.
(b) "Alcohol" means the product of distillation of any fermented liquid, whatever the origin thereof, and includes synthetic ethyl alcohol, but does not include denatured alcohol or wood alcohol.
(c) "Distilled spirits" means any beverage containing more than four percent (4%) of alcohol by weight produced by distillation of fermented grain, starch, molasses or sugar, including dilutions and mixtures of these beverages.
(d) "Wine" or "vinous liquor" means any product obtained from the alcoholic fermentation of the juice of sound, ripe grapes, fruits or berries and made in accordance with the revenue laws of the United States.
(e) "Person" means and includes any individual, partnership, corporation, association or other legal entity whatsoever.
(f) "Manufacturer" means any person engaged in manufacturing, distilling, rectifying, blending or bottling any alcoholic beverage.
(g) "Wholesaler" means any person, other than a manufacturer, engaged in distributing or selling any alcoholic beverage at wholesale for delivery within or without this state when such sale is for the purpose of resale by the purchaser.
(h) "Retailer" means any person who sells, distributes, or offers for sale or distribution, any alcoholic beverage for use or consumption by the purchaser and not for resale.
(i) "State Tax Commission," "commission" or "department" means the Department of Revenue of the State of Mississippi, which shall create a division in its organization to be known as the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division. Any reference to the commission or the department hereafter means the powers and duties of the Department of Revenue with reference to supervision of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division.
(j) "Division" means the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the Department of Revenue.
(k) "Municipality" means any incorporated city or town of this state.
(l) "Hotel" means an establishment within a municipality, or within a qualified resort area approved as such by the department, where, in consideration of payment, food and lodging are habitually furnished to travelers and wherein are located at least twenty (20) adequately furnished and completely separate sleeping rooms with adequate facilities that persons usually apply for and receive as overnight accommodations. Hotels in towns or cities of more than twenty-five thousand (25,000) population are similarly defined except that they must have fifty (50) or more sleeping rooms. Any such establishment described in this paragraph with less than fifty (50) beds shall operate one or more regular dining rooms designed to be constantly frequented by customers each day. When used in this chapter, the word "hotel" shall also be construed to include any establishment that meets the definition of "bed and breakfast inn" as provided in this section.
(m) "Restaurant" means a place which is regularly and in a bona fide manner used and kept open for the serving of meals to guests for compensation, which has suitable seating facilities for guests, and which has suitable kitchen facilities connected therewith for cooking an assortment of foods and meals commonly ordered at various hours of the day; the service of such food as sandwiches and salads only shall not be deemed in compliance with this requirement. No place shall qualify as a restaurant under this chapter unless twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the revenue derived from such place shall be from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages, or unless the value of food given to and consumed by customers is equal to twenty-five percent (25%) or more of total revenue.
(n) "Club" means an association or a corporation:
(i) Organized or created under the laws of this state for a period of five (5) years prior to July 1, 1966;
(ii) Organized not primarily for pecuniary profit but for the promotion of some common object other than the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages;
(iii) Maintained by its members through the payment of annual dues;
(iv) Owning, hiring or leasing a building or space in a building of such extent and character as may be suitable and adequate for the reasonable and comfortable use and accommodation of its members and their guests;
(v) The affairs and management of which are conducted by a board of directors, board of governors, executive committee, or similar governing body chosen by the members at a regular meeting held at some periodic interval; and
(vi) No member, officer, agent or employee of which is paid, or directly or indirectly receives, in the form of a salary or other compensation any profit from the distribution or sale of alcoholic beverages to the club or to members or guests of the club beyond such salary or compensation as may be fixed and voted at a proper meeting by the board of directors or other governing body out of the general revenues of the club.
The department may, in its discretion, waive the five-year provision of this paragraph. In order to qualify under this paragraph, a club must file with the department, at the time of its application for a license under this chapter, two (2) copies of a list of the names and residences of its members and similarly file, within ten (10) days after the election of any additional member, his name and address. Each club applying for a license shall also file with the department at the time of the application a copy of its articles of association, charter of incorporation, bylaws or other instruments governing the business and affairs thereof.
(o) "Qualified resort area" means any area or locality outside of the limits of incorporated municipalities in this state commonly known and accepted as a place which regularly and customarily attracts tourists, vacationists and other transients because of its historical, scenic or recreational facilities or attractions, or because of other attributes which regularly and customarily appeal to and attract tourists, vacationists and other transients in substantial numbers; however, no area or locality shall so qualify as a resort area until it has been duly and properly approved as such by the department.
(i) The department may approve an area or locality outside of the limits of an incorporated municipality that is in the process of being developed as a qualified resort area if such area or locality, when developed, can reasonably be expected to meet the requisites of the definition of the term "qualified resort area." In such a case, the status of qualified resort area shall not take effect until completion of the development.
(ii) The term includes any state park which is declared a resort area by the department; however, such declaration may only be initiated in a written request for resort area status made to the department by the Executive Director of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and no permit for the sale of any alcoholic beverage, as defined in this chapter, except an on-premises retailer's permit, shall be issued for a hotel, restaurant or bed and breakfast inn in such park.
(iii) The term includes:
1. The clubhouses associated with the state park golf courses at the Lefleur's Bluff State Park, the John Kyle State Park, the Percy Quin State Park and the Hugh White State Park;
2. The clubhouse and associated golf course where the golf course is adjacent to one or more planned residential developments and the golf course and all such developments collectively include at least seven hundred fifty (750) acres and at least four hundred (400) residential units;
3. Any facility located on property that is a game reserve with restricted access that consists of at least three thousand (3,000) contiguous acres with no public roads and that offers as a service hunts for a fee to overnight guests of the facility;
4. Any facility located on federal property surrounding a lake and designated as a recreational area by the United States Army Corps of Engineers that consists of at least one thousand five hundred (1,500) acres;
5. Any facility that is located in a municipality that is bordered by the Pearl River, traversed by Mississippi Highway 25, adjacent to the boundaries of the Jackson International Airport and is located in a county which has voted against coming out from under the dry law; however, any such facility may only be located in areas designated by the governing authorities of such municipality;
6. Any municipality with a population in excess of ten thousand (10,000) according to the latest federal decennial census that is located in a county that is bordered by the Pearl River and is not traversed by Interstate Highway 20, with a population in excess of forty-five thousand (45,000) according to the latest federal decennial census;
7. The West Pearl Restaurant Tax District as defined in Chapter 912, Local and Private Laws of 2007.
The status of these municipalities, districts, clubhouses, facilities and golf courses described in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph (o) as qualified resort areas does not require any declaration of same by the department.
(p) "Native wine" means any product, produced in Mississippi for sale, having an alcohol content not to exceed twenty-one percent (21%) by weight and made in accordance with revenue laws of the United States, which shall be obtained primarily from the alcoholic fermentation of the juice of ripe grapes, fruits, berries or vegetables grown and produced in Mississippi; provided that bulk, concentrated or fortified wines used for blending may be produced without this state and used in producing native wines. The department shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to permit a producer to import such bulk and/or fortified wines into this state for use in blending with native wines without payment of any excise tax that would otherwise accrue thereon.
(q) "Native winery" means any place or establishment within the State of Mississippi where native wine is produced in whole or in part for sale.
(r) "Bed and breakfast inn" means an establishment within a municipality where in consideration of payment, breakfast and lodging are habitually furnished to travelers and wherein are located not less than eight (8) and not more than nineteen (19) adequately furnished and completely separate sleeping rooms with adequate facilities, that persons usually apply for and receive as overnight accommodations; however, such restriction on the minimum number of sleeping rooms shall not apply to establishments on the National Register of Historic Places. No place shall qualify as a bed and breakfast inn under this chapter unless on the date of the initial application for a license under this chapter more than fifty percent (50%) of the sleeping rooms are located in a structure formerly used as a residence.
(s) "Board" shall refer to Board of Tax Appeals of the State of Mississippi.
(t) "Spa facility" means an establishment within a municipality or qualified resort area and owned by a hotel where, in consideration of payment, patrons receive from licensed professionals a variety of private personal care treatments such as massages, facials, waxes, exfoliation and hairstyling.
(u) "Art studio or gallery" means an establishment within a municipality or qualified resort area, that is in the sole business of allowing patrons to view and/or purchase paintings and other creative artwork.
(v) "Cooking school" means an establishment within a municipality or qualified resort area and owned by a nationally recognized company that offers an established culinary education curriculum and program where, in consideration of payment, patrons are given scheduled professional group instruction on culinary techniques. For purposes of this paragraph, the definition of cooking school shall not include schools or classes offered by grocery stores, convenience stores or drugstores.
SECTION 4. Section 67-3-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-3-1. The purpose of this chapter is to legalize the manufacture and sale within this state of light wines and beer * * *, and to regulate the business of manufacturing and of selling light wines and beer so as to prevent the illicit manufacture, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages as defined in Section 67-1-5, the manufacture and sale of which it is not the purpose of this chapter to legalize.
SECTION 5. Section 67-3-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-3-5. It shall be lawful, subject to the provisions set forth in this chapter, in this state to transport, store, sell, distribute, possess, receive and/or manufacture wine and beer * * *, and it is hereby declared that it is the legislative intent that this chapter privileges the lawful sale and manufacture, within this state, of such light wines and beer. In determining if a wine product is "light wine," or contains an alcoholic content of more than five percent (5%) by weight, or is not an "alcoholic beverage" as defined in the Local Option Alcoholic Beverage Control Law, Chapter 1 of Title 67, Mississippi Code of 1972, the alcoholic content of such wine product shall be subject to the same permitted tolerance as is allowed by the labeling requirements for light wine provided for in Section 27-71-509.
SECTION 6. Section 67-3-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-3-7. (1) If any county, at an election held for the purpose under the election laws of the state, shall by a majority vote of the duly qualified electors voting in the election determine that the transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt and/or manufacture of wine and beer * * * shall not be permitted in such county, then the same shall not be permitted therein except as authorized under Section 67-9-1 and as may be otherwise authorized in this section. An election to determine whether such transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt and/or manufacture of such beverages shall be excluded from any county in the state, shall, on a petition of twenty percent (20%) of the duly qualified electors of such county, be ordered by the board of supervisors of the county, for such county only. No election on the question shall be held in any one county more often than once in five (5) years.
In counties which have elected, or may elect by a majority vote of the duly qualified electors voting in the election, that the transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt and/or manufacture of wine or beer * * * shall not be permitted in the county, an election may be held in the same manner as the election hereinabove provided on the question of whether or not the transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt and/or manufacture of said beverages shall be permitted in such county. Such election shall be ordered by the board of supervisors of such county on a petition of twenty percent (20%) of the duly qualified electors of such county. No election on this question can be ordered more often than once in five (5) years.
(2) Nothing in this section shall make it unlawful to possess beer or wine, as defined herein, in any municipality which has heretofore or which may hereafter vote in an election, pursuant to Section 67-3-9, in which a majority of the qualified electors vote in favor of permitting the sale and the receipt, storage and transportation for the purpose of sale of beer or wine as defined herein.
(3) Nothing in this section shall make it unlawful to:
(a) Possess or consume light wine or beer at a qualified resort area as defined in Section 67-1-5;
(b) Sell, distribute and transport light wine or beer to a qualified resort area as defined in Section 67-1-5;
(c) Sell light wine or beer at a qualified resort area as defined in Section 67-1-5 if such light wine or beer is sold by a person with a permit to engage in the business as a retailer of light wine or beer.
SECTION 7. Section 67-3-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-3-9. Any city in this state, having a population of not less than two thousand five hundred (2,500) according to the latest federal census, at an election held for the purpose, under the election laws applicable to such city, may either prohibit or permit, except as otherwise provided under Section 67-9-1, the sale and the receipt, storage and transportation for the purpose of sale of beer and light wine * * *. An election to determine whether such sale shall be permitted in cities wherein its sale is prohibited by law shall be ordered by the city council or mayor and board of aldermen or other governing body of such city for such city only, upon the presentation of a petition for such city to such governing board containing the names of twenty percent (20%) of the duly qualified voters of such city asking for such election. In like manner, an election to determine whether such sale shall be prohibited in cities wherein its sale is permitted by law shall be ordered by the city council or mayor and board of aldermen or other governing board of such city for such city only, upon the presentation of a petition to such governing board containing the names of twenty percent (20%) of the duly qualified voters of such city asking for such election. No election on either question shall be held by any one (1) city more often than once in five (5) years.
Thirty (30) days' notice shall be given to the qualified electors of such city in the manner prescribed by law upon the question of either permitting or prohibiting such sale, and the notice shall contain a statement of the question to be voted on at the election. The tickets to be used in the election shall have the following words printed thereon: "For the legal sale of light wine of an alcoholic content of not more than five percent (5%) by weight and beer of an alcoholic content of not more than seventeen percent (17%) by weight"; and the words "Against the legal sale of light wine of an alcoholic content of not more than five percent (5%) by weight and beer of an alcoholic content of not more than seventeen percent (17%) by weight," next below. In making up his ticket the voter shall make a cross (X) opposite the words of his choice.
If in the election a majority of the qualified electors voting in the election shall vote "For the legal sale of light wine of an alcoholic content of not more than five percent (5%) by weight and beer of an alcoholic content of not more than seventeen percent (17%) by weight," then the city council or mayor and board of aldermen or other governing body shall pass the necessary order permitting the legal sale of such light wine and beer in such city. If in the election a majority of the qualified electors voting in the election shall vote "Against the legal sale of light wine of an alcoholic content of not more than five percent (5%) by weight and beer of an alcoholic content of not more than seventeen percent (17%) by weight," then the city council or mayor and board of aldermen or other governing body shall pass the necessary order prohibiting the sale of such light wine and beer in such city.
All laws or parts of laws in conflict with this section are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict only, this section being cumulative and supplementary.
SECTION 8. Section 67-3-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-3-13. (1) Except as otherwise provided herein and as authorized under this section and Section 67-9-1, in any county which has at any time since February 26, 1934, elected, or which may hereafter elect, to prohibit the transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt and/or manufacture of wine and beer of an alcoholic content of not more than four percent (4%) by weight in such county, it is hereby declared to be unlawful to possess such beverages therein. In any county which, after July 1, 1998, elects to prohibit the transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt and/or manufacture of wine and beer of an alcoholic content of not more than five percent (5%) by weight in such county, it is hereby declared to be unlawful to possess such beer therein. In any county which, after July 1, 2010, elects to prohibit the transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt and/or manufacture of wine of an alcoholic content of not more than five percent (5%) by weight in such county and beer of an alcoholic content of not more than seventeen percent (17%) by weight, it is hereby declared to be unlawful to possess such beer therein. Any person found possessing any beer or wine of any quantity whatsoever in such county shall, on conviction, be imprisoned not more than ninety (90) days or fined not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or be both so fined and imprisoned.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, in any county or municipality in which the transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt and/or manufacture of light wine and beer is prohibited, it shall not be unlawful for a permitted wholesaler or distributor to possess light wine and beer when such light wine and beer is held therein solely for the purpose of storage and for distribution to other counties and municipalities in which possession of such beverages is lawful.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of this section, in any county in which transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt and/or manufacture of light wine and beer is prohibited, it shall not be unlawful:
(a) To receive, store, possess or consume light wine or beer at a resort area as defined in Section 67-1-5;
(b) To distribute and transport light wine or beer to a resort area as defined in Section 67-1-5.
SECTION 9. Section 67-3-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-3-17. Any person desiring to engage in any business taxable under Sections 27-71-303 through 27-71-317, Mississippi Code of 1972, either as a retailer, or as a wholesaler or distributor, or as a manufacturer, of light wines or beer, shall file with the commissioner an application for a permit allowing him to engage in such business. The application for a permit shall be filed on a blank to be furnished by the commissioner for that purpose, and shall contain a statement showing the name of the business, and if a partnership, firm or association, the name of each partner or member, and if a corporation the names of two (2) principal officers, the post office address, and the nature of business in which engaged. In case any business is conducted at two (2) or more separate places, a separate permit for each place of business shall be required.
The applicant, at the time of filing such application for a permit or license to engage in such business, shall also file with the commissioner an oath, duly subscribed and sworn to by him before an officer authorized to administer oaths, that he will not allow any alcoholic beverages as defined in Section 67-1-5, * * * any beer having an alcoholic content of more than seventeen percent (17%) by weight or any wine, having an alcoholic content of more than five percent (5%) by weight, to be kept, stored or secreted in or on the premises described in such permit or license, and that the applicant will not otherwise violate any law of this state, or knowingly allow any other person to violate any such law, while in or on such premises.
Each application or filing made under this section shall include the social security number(s) of the applicant in accordance with Section 93-11-64, Mississippi Code of 1972.
SECTION 10. Section 67-3-28, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-3-28. (1) Any person desiring to engage in business as a brewpub shall file with the commissioner, along with the application required by Section 67-3-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, a certificate issued by a licensed testing laboratory indicating that such laboratory has tested a sample of the applicant's beer or light wine, or both, and that the alcohol content of such sample of beer does not exceed seventeen percent (17%) by weight and the alcoholic content of such light wine does not exceed five percent (5%) by weight.
(2) Every brewpub shall be required to submit to random testing by the commissioner to determine whether any beer * * * being manufactured, sold, kept, stored or secreted by the license holder contains an alcohol content greater than seventeen percent (17%) by weight and any light wine being manufactured, sold, kept, stored or secreted by the license holder contains an alcoholic content greater than five percent (5%) by weight. The commissioner shall establish and administer testing standards and procedures to be used in such random testing. The brewpub licensee shall be responsible for all costs incurred by the commissioner in conducting random testing under this section.
SECTION 11. Section 67-3-49, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-3-49. It shall be unlawful for any brewer or manufacturer or distributor or wholesale dealer of or in light wines and/or beer to manufacture or knowingly bring upon his premises or keep thereon any * * * wine of an alcoholic content of more than five percent (5%) by weight and beer of an alcoholic content of not more than seventeen percent (17%) by weight, or any distilled spirits of any alcoholic content whatsoever. Any person that shall add to or mix with any beer or light wine any alcoholic or other liquid, or any alcohol cube or cubes, or any other ingredient or ingredients that will increase or tend to increase the alcoholic content of such liquor, or any person that shall knowingly offer for sale any liquor so treated, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished as hereinafter provided in this chapter. The commissioner shall take any action he considers necessary to ensure that light wine and/or beer manufactured at a brewpub complies with the provisions of this section.
SECTION 12. Section 67-3-53, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-3-53. In addition to any act declared to be unlawful by this chapter, or by Sections 27-71-301 through 27-71-347, and Sections 67-3-17, 67-3-27, 67-3-29 and 67-3-57, it shall be unlawful for the holder of a permit authorizing the sale of beer or light wine at retail or for the employee of the holder of such a permit:
(a) To sell or give to be consumed in or upon any licensed premises any beer or light wine between the hours of midnight and seven o'clock the following morning or during any time the licensed premises may be required to be closed by municipal ordinance or order of the board of supervisors; however, in areas where the sale of alcoholic beverages is legal under the provisions of the Local Option Alcoholic Beverage Control Law and the hours for selling those alcoholic beverages have been extended beyond midnight for on-premises permittees under Section 67-1-37, the hours for selling beer or light wines are likewise extended in areas where the sale of beer and light wines is legal in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(b) To sell, give or furnish any beer or light wine to any person visibly or noticeably intoxicated, or to any habitual drunkard, or to any person under the age of twenty-one (21) years.
(c) To permit in the premises any lewd, immoral or improper entertainment, conduct or practices.
(d) To permit loud, boisterous or disorderly conduct of any kind upon the premises or to permit the use of loud musical instruments if either or any of the same may disturb the peace and quietude of the community in which the business is located.
(e) To permit persons of ill repute, known criminals, prostitutes or minors to frequent the licensed premises, except minors accompanied by parents or guardians, or under proper supervision.
(f) To permit or suffer illegal gambling or the operation of illegal games of chance upon the licensed premises.
(g) To receive, possess or sell on the licensed premises any beverage of any kind or character containing more than five percent (5%) of alcohol by weight except any beer containing not more than seventeen percent (17%) of alcohol by weight, unless the licensee also possesses an on-premises permit under the Local Option Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.
SECTION 13. Section 27-71-509, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-71-509. It shall be unlawful for any brewer, manufacturer, distributor or retailer of light wines and beer, or either of them, to whom a permit has been issued under the provisions of Sections 67-3-15 and 67-3-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, to write or print on any label or container of either of the above named commodities any matter relating to the alcoholic content of such beverage or beverages, except a statement, to the effect that the contents of the vessel or container in which light wine shall be sold does not contain alcohol in excess of five percent (5%) of the contents thereof, by weight, and that the contents of the vessel or container in which beer shall be sold does not contain alcohol in excess of seventeen percent (17%) of the contents thereof, by weight. It shall be unlawful for any such brewer, wholesaler, distributor or retailer to sell any such commodity with any statement in conflict with the provisions of this section, with reference to the alcoholic content of such beverage or beverages, except that a statement of alcoholic content may be expressed on any light wine or beer label in terms of volume or weight, at the manufacturer's option; and such statement, if by volume, shall be subject to the same permitted tolerance allowed for wine containing fourteen percent (14%) alcohol by volume or less by Section 4.36(b)(1) of the Federal Labeling Requirements for Wine, 27 CFR Part 4, subpart D, and Section 7.71(c) 27 CFR Part 7, subpart G, and, if by weight, shall be subject to an equivalent permitted tolerance, determined in terms of alcohol by weight.
SECTION 14. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2010.