MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2023 Regular Session
To: Ways and Means
By: Representative Roberson
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 67-1-51, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXTEND THE DATE OF THE REPEALER ON THE AUTHORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO ISSUE A FESTIVAL WINE PERMIT; TO AMEND THE PACKAGE RETAILER'S PERMIT TO ALLOW EDIBLE ALCOHOL PRODUCT TO BE SOLD AT SUCH LICENSED PREMISES; TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN ON-PREMISES RETAILER'S PERMITTEES MAY SERVE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES BY THE GLASS TO A PATRON IN A VEHICLE USING A DRIVE-THROUGH METHOD OF DELIVERY IF THE PERMITTED PREMISES IS LOCATED IN A LEISURE AND RECREATION DISTRICT AND THAT SUCH A SALE WILL BE CONSIDERED TO BE MADE ON THE PERMITTED PREMISES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE RESTRICTIONS ON THE MANUFACTURING, SALE OR STORAGE OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS WITHIN CERTAIN DISTANCES OF CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND FUNERAL HOMES SHALL NOT APPLY TO THE SALE OR STORAGE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AT CERTAIN LOCATIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 67-1-41, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXTEND THE EXPIRATION DATE OF THE EXCEPTION TO THE STATUTE REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO SERVE AS A WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTOR AND SELLER OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES FOR THOSE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES SOLD BY THE HOLDER OF A FESTIVAL WINE PERMIT; TO AMEND SECTION 67-1-77, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXTEND THE EXPIRATION DATE ON THE AUTHORITY OF A DISTILLER, WINE MANUFACTURER, RECTIFIER, BLENDER OR BOTTLER TO HAVE A FINANCIAL INTEREST IN A WINE FESTIVAL PERMIT; TO AMEND SECTION 27-71-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXTEND THE DATE OF THE REPEALER ON THE ANNUAL PRIVILEGE LICENSE TAX FOR A FESTIVAL WINE PERMIT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 67-1-51, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-51. (1) Permits which may be issued by the department shall be as follows:
(a) Manufacturer's permit. A manufacturer's permit shall permit the manufacture, importation in bulk, bottling and storage of alcoholic liquor and its distribution and sale to manufacturers holding permits under this article in this state and to persons outside the state who are authorized by law to purchase the same, and to sell as provided by this article.
Manufacturer's permits shall be of the following classes:
Class 1. Distiller's and/or rectifier's permit, which shall authorize the holder thereof to operate a distillery for the production of distilled spirits by distillation or redistillation and/or to operate a rectifying plant for the purifying, refining, mixing, blending, flavoring or reducing in proof of distilled spirits and alcohol.
Class 2. Wine manufacturer's permit, which shall authorize the holder thereof to manufacture, import in bulk, bottle and store wine or vinous liquor.
Class 3. Native wine producer's permit, which shall authorize the holder thereof to produce, bottle, store and sell native wines.
Class 4. Native spirit producer's permit, which shall authorize the holder thereof to produce, bottle, store and sell native spirits.
(b) Package
retailer's permit. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph and
Section 67-1-52, a package retailer's permit shall authorize the holder thereof
to operate a store exclusively for the sale at retail in original sealed and
unopened packages of alcoholic beverages, including native wines, * * * native spirits and edibles, not to
be consumed on the premises where sold. Alcoholic beverages shall not be sold
by any retailer in any package or container containing less than fifty (50) milliliters
by liquid measure. A package retailer's permit, with prior approval from the
department, shall authorize the holder thereof to sample new product furnished
by a manufacturer's representative or his employees at the permitted place of
business so long as the sampling otherwise complies with this article and
applicable department regulations. Such samples may not be provided to
customers at the permitted place of business. In addition to the sale at
retail of packages of alcoholic beverages, the holder of a package retailer's
permit is authorized to sell at retail corkscrews, wine glasses, soft drinks,
ice, juices, mixers, * * * other beverages commonly used to mix with
alcoholic beverages, and fruits and foods that have been submerged in alcohol
and are commonly referred to as edibles. Nonalcoholic beverages sold by
the holder of a package retailer's permit shall not be consumed on the premises
where sold.
(c) On-premises
retailer's permit. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this
section, an on-premises retailer's permit shall authorize the sale of alcoholic
beverages, including native wines and native spirits, for consumption on the
licensed premises only; however, a patron of the permit holder may remove one
(1) bottle of wine from the licensed premises if: (i) the patron consumed a
portion of the bottle of wine in the course of consuming a meal purchased on
the licensed premises; (ii) the permit holder securely reseals the bottle;
(iii) the bottle is placed in a bag that is secured in a manner so that it will
be visibly apparent if the bag is opened; and (iv) a dated receipt for the wine
and the meal is available. Additionally, as part of a carryout order, a permit
holder may sell one (1) bottle of wine to be removed from the licensed premises
for every two (2) entrees ordered. In addition, an on-premises retailer's permittee
at a permitted premises located on Jefferson Davis Avenue within one-half (1/2)
mile north of U.S. Highway 90 may serve alcoholic beverages by the glass to a patron
in a vehicle using a drive-through method of delivery if the permitted premises
is located in a leisure and recreation district established under Section 67-1-101.
Such a sale will be considered to be made on the permitted premises. * * * An on-premises retailer's permit
shall be issued only to qualified hotels, restaurants and clubs, small craft
breweries, microbreweries, and to common carriers with adequate facilities for
serving passengers. In resort areas, whether inside or outside of a
municipality, the department, in its discretion, may issue on-premises
retailer's permits to such establishments as it deems proper. An on-premises
retailer's permit when issued to a common carrier shall authorize the sale and
serving of alcoholic beverages aboard any licensed vehicle while moving through
any county of the state; however, the sale of such alcoholic beverages shall
not be permitted while such vehicle is stopped in a county that has not
legalized such sales. If an on-premises retailer's permit is applied for by a
common carrier operating solely in the water, such common carrier must, along
with all other qualifications for a permit, (i) be certified to carry at least
one hundred fifty (150) passengers and/or provide overnight accommodations for
at least fifty (50) passengers and (ii) operate primarily in the waters within
the State of Mississippi which lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south
of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi and/or on
the Mississippi River or navigable waters within any county bordering on the
Mississippi River.
(d) Solicitor's permit. A solicitor's permit shall authorize the holder thereof to act as salesman for a manufacturer or wholesaler holding a proper permit, to solicit on behalf of his employer orders for alcoholic beverages, and to otherwise promote his employer's products in a legitimate manner. Such a permit shall authorize the representation of and employment by one (1) principal only. However, the permittee may also, in the discretion of the department, be issued additional permits to represent other principals. No such permittee shall buy or sell alcoholic beverages for his own account, and no such beverage shall be brought into this state in pursuance of the exercise of such permit otherwise than through a permit issued to a wholesaler or manufacturer in the state.
(e) Native wine retailer's permit. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, a native wine retailer's permit shall be issued only to a holder of a Class 3 manufacturer's permit, and shall authorize the holder thereof to make retail sales of native wines to consumers for on-premises consumption or to consumers in originally sealed and unopened containers at an establishment located on the premises of or in the immediate vicinity of a native winery. When selling to consumers for on-premises consumption, a holder of a native wine retailer's permit may add to the native wine alcoholic beverages not produced on the premises, so long as the total volume of foreign beverage components does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the mixed beverage. Hours of sale shall be the same as those authorized for on-premises permittees in the city or county in which the native wine retailer is located.
(f) Temporary retailer's permit. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, a temporary retailer's permit shall permit the purchase and resale of alcoholic beverages, including native wines and native spirits, during legal hours on the premises described in the temporary permit only.
Temporary retailer's permits shall be of the following classes:
Class 1. A temporary one-day permit may be issued to bona fide nonprofit civic or charitable organizations authorizing the sale of alcoholic beverages, including native wine and native spirit, for consumption on the premises described in the temporary permit only. Class 1 permits may be issued only to applicants demonstrating to the department, by a statement signed under penalty of perjury submitted ten (10) days prior to the proposed date or such other time as the department may determine, that they meet the qualifications of Sections 67-1-11, 67-1-37, 67-1-51(2) and (3), 67-1-55, 67-1-57 (excluding paragraph (e)) and 67-1-59. Class 1 permittees shall obtain all alcoholic beverages from package retailers located in the county in which the temporary permit is issued. Alcoholic beverages remaining in stock upon expiration of the temporary permit may be returned by the permittee to the package retailer for a refund of the purchase price upon consent of the package retailer or may be kept by the permittee exclusively for personal use and consumption, subject to all laws pertaining to the illegal sale and possession of alcoholic beverages. The department, following review of the statement provided by the applicant and the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations, may issue the permit.
Class 2. A temporary permit, not to exceed seventy (70) days, may be issued to prospective permittees seeking to transfer a permit authorized in paragraph (c) of this subsection. A Class 2 permit may be issued only to applicants demonstrating to the department, by a statement signed under the penalty of perjury, that they meet the qualifications of Sections 67-1-5(l), (m), (n), (o), (p) or (q), 67-1-37, 67-1-51(2) and (3), 67-1-55, 67-1-57 and 67-1-59. The department, following a preliminary review of the statement provided by the applicant and the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations, may issue the permit.
Class 2 temporary permittees must purchase their alcoholic beverages directly from the department or, with approval of the department, purchase the remaining stock of the previous permittee. If the proposed applicant of a Class 1 or Class 2 temporary permit falsifies information contained in the application or statement, the applicant shall never again be eligible for a retail alcohol beverage permit and shall be subject to prosecution for perjury.
Class 3. A temporary one-day permit may be issued to a retail establishment authorizing the complimentary distribution of wine, including native wine, to patrons of the retail establishment at an open house or promotional event, for consumption only on the premises described in the temporary permit. A Class 3 permit may be issued only to an applicant demonstrating to the department, by a statement signed under penalty of perjury submitted ten (10) days before the proposed date or such other time as the department may determine, that it meets the qualifications of Sections 67-1-11, 67-1-37, 67-1-51(2) and (3), 67-1-55, 67-1-57 (excluding paragraph (e)) and 67-1-59. A Class 3 permit holder shall obtain all alcoholic beverages from the holder(s) of a package retailer's permit located in the county in which the temporary permit is issued. Wine remaining in stock upon expiration of the temporary permit may be returned by the Class 3 temporary permit holder to the package retailer for a refund of the purchase price, with consent of the package retailer, or may be kept by the Class 3 temporary permit holder exclusively for personal use and consumption, subject to all laws pertaining to the illegal sale and possession of alcoholic beverages. The department, following review of the statement provided by the applicant and the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations, may issue the permit. No retailer may receive more than twelve (12) Class 3 temporary permits in a calendar year. A Class 3 temporary permit shall not be issued to a retail establishment that either holds a merchant permit issued under paragraph (l) of this subsection, or holds a permit issued under Chapter 3, Title 67, Mississippi Code of 1972, authorizing the holder to engage in the business of a retailer of light wine or beer.
(g) Caterer's permit. A caterer's permit shall permit the purchase of alcoholic beverages by a person engaging in business as a caterer and the resale of alcoholic beverages by such person in conjunction with such catering business. No person shall qualify as a caterer unless forty percent (40%) or more of the revenue derived from such catering business shall be from the serving of prepared food and not from the sale of alcoholic beverages and unless such person has obtained a permit for such business from the Department of Health. A caterer's permit shall not authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages on the premises of the person engaging in business as a caterer; however, the holder of an on-premises retailer's permit may hold a caterer's permit. When the holder of an on-premises retailer's permit or an affiliated entity of the holder also holds a caterer's permit, the caterer's permit shall not authorize the service of alcoholic beverages on a consistent, recurring basis at a separate, fixed location owned or operated by the caterer, on-premises retailer or affiliated entity and an on-premises retailer's permit shall be required for the separate location. All sales of alcoholic beverages by holders of a caterer's permit shall be made at the location being catered by the caterer, and, except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, such sales may be made only for consumption at the catered location. The location being catered may be anywhere within a county or judicial district that has voted to come out from under the dry laws or in which the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages is otherwise authorized by law. Such sales shall be made pursuant to any other conditions and restrictions which apply to sales made by on-premises retail permittees. The holder of a caterer's permit or his employees shall remain at the catered location as long as alcoholic beverages are being sold pursuant to the permit issued under this paragraph (g), and the permittee shall have at the location the identification card issued by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the department. No unsold alcoholic beverages may be left at the catered location by the permittee upon the conclusion of his business at that location. Appropriate law enforcement officers and Alcoholic Beverage Control Division personnel may enter a catered location on private property in order to enforce laws governing the sale or serving of alcoholic beverages.
(h) Research permit. A research permit shall authorize the holder thereof to operate a research facility for the professional research of alcoholic beverages. Such permit shall authorize the holder of the permit to import and purchase limited amounts of alcoholic beverages from the department or from importers, wineries and distillers of alcoholic beverages for professional research.
(i) Alcohol processing permit. An alcohol processing permit shall authorize the holder thereof to purchase, transport and possess alcoholic beverages for the exclusive use in cooking, processing or manufacturing products which contain alcoholic beverages as an integral ingredient. An alcohol processing permit shall not authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages on the premises of the person engaging in the business of cooking, processing or manufacturing products which contain alcoholic beverages. The amounts of alcoholic beverages allowed under an alcohol processing permit shall be set by the department.
(j) Hospitality cart permit. A hospitality cart permit shall authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages from a mobile cart on a golf course that is the holder of an on-premises retailer's permit. The alcoholic beverages sold from the cart must be consumed within the boundaries of the golf course.
(k) Special service permit. A special service permit shall authorize the holder to sell commercially sealed alcoholic beverages to the operator of a commercial or private aircraft for en route consumption only by passengers. A special service permit shall be issued only to a fixed-base operator who contracts with an airport facility to provide fueling and other associated services to commercial and private aircraft.
(l) Merchant permit. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, a merchant permit shall be issued only to the owner of a spa facility, an art studio or gallery, or a cooking school, and shall authorize the holder to serve complimentary by the glass wine only, including native wine, at the holder's spa facility, art studio or gallery, or cooking school. A merchant permit holder shall obtain all wine from the holder of a package retailer's permit.
(m) Temporary alcoholic beverages charitable auction permit. A temporary permit, not to exceed five (5) days, may be issued to a qualifying charitable nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The permit shall authorize the holder to sell alcoholic beverages for the limited purpose of raising funds for the organization during a live or silent auction that is conducted by the organization and that meets the following requirements: (i) the auction is conducted in an area of the state where the sale of alcoholic beverages is authorized; (ii) if the auction is conducted on the premises of an on-premises retailer's permit holder, then the alcoholic beverages to be auctioned must be stored separately from the alcoholic beverages sold, stored or served on the premises, must be removed from the premises immediately following the auction, and may not be consumed on the premises; (iii) the permit holder may not conduct more than two (2) auctions during a calendar year; (iv) the permit holder may not pay a commission or promotional fee to any person to arrange or conduct the auction.
(n) Event venue retailer's permit. An event venue retailer's permit shall authorize the holder thereof to purchase and resell alcoholic beverages, including native wines and native spirits, for consumption on the premises during legal hours during events held on the licensed premises if food is being served at the event by a caterer who is not affiliated with or related to the permittee. The caterer must serve at least three (3) entrees. The permit may only be issued for venues that can accommodate two hundred (200) persons or more. The number of persons a venue may accommodate shall be determined by the local fire department and such determination shall be provided in writing and submitted along with all other documents required to be provided for an on-premises retailer's permit. The permittee must derive the majority of its revenue from event-related fees, including, but not limited to, admission fees or ticket sales for live entertainment in the building. "Event-related fees" do not include alcohol, beer or light wine sales or any fee which may be construed to cover the cost of alcohol, beer or light wine. This determination shall be made on a per event basis. An event may not last longer than two (2) consecutive days per week.
(o) Temporary theatre permit. A temporary theatre permit, not to exceed five (5) days, may be issued to a charitable nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code and owns or operates a theatre facility that features plays and other theatrical performances and productions. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, the permit shall authorize the holder to sell alcoholic beverages, including native wines and native spirits, to patrons of the theatre during performances and productions at the theatre facility for consumption during such performances and productions on the premises of the facility described in the permit. A temporary theatre permit holder shall obtain all alcoholic beverages from package retailers located in the county in which the permit is issued. Alcoholic beverages remaining in stock upon expiration of the temporary theatre permit may be returned by the permittee to the package retailer for a refund of the purchase price upon consent of the package retailer or may be kept by the permittee exclusively for personal use and consumption, subject to all laws pertaining to the illegal sale and possession of alcoholic beverages.
(p) Charter ship operator's permit. Subject to the provisions of this paragraph (p), a charter ship operator's permit shall authorize the holder thereof and its employees to serve, monitor, store and otherwise control the serving and availability of alcoholic beverages to customers of the permit holder during private charters under contract provided by the permit holder. A charter ship operator's permit shall authorize such action by the permit holder and its employees only as to alcoholic beverages brought onto the permit holder's ship by customers of the permit holder as part of such a private charter. All such alcoholic beverages must be removed from the charter ship at the conclusion of each private charter. A charter ship operator's permit shall not authorize the permit holder to sell, charge for or otherwise supply alcoholic beverages to customers, except as authorized in this paragraph (p). For the purposes of this paragraph (p), "charter ship operator" means a common carrier that (i) is certified to carry at least one hundred fifty (150) passengers and/or provide overnight accommodations for at least fifty (50) passengers, (ii) operates only in the waters within the State of Mississippi, which lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, and (iii) provides charters under contract for tours and trips in such waters.
(q) Distillery retailer's permit. The holder of a Class 1 manufacturer's permit may obtain a distillery retailer's permit. A distillery retailer's permit shall authorize the holder thereof to sell at retail alcoholic beverages to consumers for on-premises consumption, or to consumers by the sealed and unopened bottle from a retail location at the distillery for off-premises consumption. The holder may only sell product manufactured by the manufacturer at the distillery described in the permit. However, when selling to consumers for on-premises consumption, a holder of a distillery retailer's permit may add other beverages, alcoholic or not, so long as the total volume of other beverage components containing alcohol does not exceed twenty percent (20%). Hours of sale shall be the same as those authorized for on-premises permittees in the city or county in which the distillery retailer is located.
The holder shall not sell at retail more than ten percent (10%) of the alcoholic beverages produced annually at its distillery. The holder shall not make retail sales of more than two and twenty-five one-hundredths (2.25) liters, in the aggregate, of the alcoholic beverages produced at its distillery to any one (1) individual for consumption off the premises of the distillery within a twenty-four-hour period. The hours of sale shall be the same as those hours for package retailers under this article. The holder of a distillery retailer's permit is not required to purchase the alcoholic beverages authorized to be sold by this paragraph from the department's liquor distribution warehouse; however, if the holder does not purchase the alcoholic beverages from the department's liquor distribution warehouse, the holder shall pay to the department all taxes, fees and surcharges on the alcoholic beverages that are imposed upon the sale of alcoholic beverages shipped by the department or its warehouse operator. In addition to alcoholic beverages, the holder of a distillery retailer's permit may sell at retail promotional products from the same retail location, including shirts, hats, glasses, and other promotional products customarily sold by alcoholic beverage manufacturers.
(r) Festival Wine Permit. Any wine manufacturer or native wine producer permitted by Mississippi or any other state is eligible to obtain a Festival Wine Permit. This permit authorizes the entity to transport product manufactured by it to festivals held within the State of Mississippi and sell sealed, unopened bottles to festival participants. The holder of this permit may provide samples at no charge to participants. "Festival" means any event at which three (3) or more vendors are present at a location for the sale or distribution of goods. The holder of a Festival Wine Permit is not required to purchase the alcoholic beverages authorized to be sold by this paragraph from the department's liquor distribution warehouse. However, if the holder does not purchase the alcoholic beverages from the department's liquor distribution warehouse, the holder of this permit shall pay to the department all taxes, fees and surcharges on the alcoholic beverages sold at such festivals that are imposed upon the sale of alcoholic beverages shipped by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the Department of Revenue. Additionally, the entity shall file all applicable reports and returns as prescribed by the department. This permit is issued per festival and provides authority to sell for two (2) consecutive days during the hours authorized for on-premises permittees' sales in that county or city. The holder of the permit shall be required to maintain all requirements set by Local Option Law for the service and sale of alcoholic beverages. This permit may be issued to entities participating in festivals at which a Class 1 temporary permit is in effect.
This paragraph (r) shall
stand repealed from and after July 1, * * * 2026.
(s) Charter vessel operator's permit. Subject to the provisions of this paragraph (s), a charter vessel operator's permit shall authorize the holder thereof and its employees to sell and serve alcoholic beverages to passengers of the permit holder during public tours, historical tours, ecological tours and sunset cruises provided by the permit holder. The permit shall authorize the holder to only sell alcoholic beverages, including native wines, to passengers of the charter vessel operator during public tours, historical tours, ecological tours and sunset cruises provided by the permit holder aboard the charter vessel operator for consumption during such tours and cruises on the premises of the charter vessel operator described in the permit. For the purposes of this paragraph (s), "charter vessel operator" means a common carrier that (i) is certified to carry at least forty-nine (49) passengers, (ii) operates only in the waters within the State of Mississippi, which lie south of Interstate 10 in the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, and lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, extending not further than one (1) mile south of such counties, and (iii) provides vessel services for tours and cruises in such waters as provided in this paragraph(s).
(t) Native spirit retailer's permit. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, a native spirit retailer's permit shall be issued only to a holder of a Class 4 manufacturer's permit, and shall authorize the holder thereof to make retail sales of native spirits to consumers for on-premises consumption or to consumers in originally sealed and unopened containers at an establishment located on the premises of or in the immediate vicinity of a native distillery. When selling to consumers for on-premises consumption, a holder of a native spirit retailer's permit may add to the native spirit alcoholic beverages not produced on the premises, so long as the total volume of foreign beverage components does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the mixed beverage. Hours of sale shall be the same as those authorized for on-premises permittees in the city or county in which the native spirit retailer is located.
(u) Delivery service permit. Any individual, limited liability company, corporation or partnership registered to do business in this state is eligible to obtain a delivery service permit. Subject to the provisions of Section 67-1-51.1, this permit authorizes the permittee, or its employee or an independent contractor acting on its behalf, to deliver alcoholic beverages, beer, light wine and light spirit product from a licensed retailer to a person in this state who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age for the individual's use and not for resale. This permit does not authorize the delivery of alcoholic beverages, beer, light wine or light spirit product to the premises of a location with a permit for the manufacture, distribution or retail sale of alcoholic beverages, beer, light wine or light spirit product. The holder of a package retailer's permit or an on-premises retailer's permit under Section 67-1-51 or of a beer, light wine and light spirit product permit under Section 67-3-19 is authorized to apply for a delivery service permit as a privilege separate from its existing retail permit.
(v) Food truck permit. A food truck permit shall authorize the holder of an on-premises retailer's permit to use a food truck to sell alcoholic beverages off its premises to guests who must consume the beverages in open containers. For the purposes of this paragraph (v), "food truck" means a fully encased food service establishment on a motor vehicle or on a trailer that a motor vehicle pulls to transport, and from which a vendor, standing within the frame of the establishment, prepares, cooks, sells and serves food for immediate human consumption. The term "food truck" does not include a food cart that is not motorized. Food trucks shall maintain such distance requirements from schools, churches, kindergartens and funeral homes as are required for on-premises retailer's permittees under this article, and all sales must be made within a valid leisure and recreation district established under Section 67-1-101. Food trucks cannot sell or serve alcoholic beverages unless also offering food prepared and cooked within the food truck, and permittees must maintain a twenty-five percent (25%) food sale revenue requirement based on the food sold from the food truck alone. The hours allowed for sale shall be the same as those for on-premises retailer's permittees in the location. This permit will not be required for the holder of a caterer's permit issued under this article to cater an event as allowed by law. Permittees must provide notice of not less than forty-eight (48) hours to the department of each location at which alcoholic beverages will be sold.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4) of this section, retail permittees may hold more than one (1) retail permit, at the discretion of the department.
(3) (a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, no authority shall be granted to any person to manufacture, sell or store for sale any intoxicating liquor as specified in this article within four hundred (400) feet of any church, school, kindergarten or funeral home. However, within an area zoned commercial or business, such minimum distance shall be not less than one hundred (100) feet.
(b) A church or funeral home may waive the distance restrictions imposed in this subsection in favor of allowing issuance by the department of a permit, pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, to authorize activity relating to the manufacturing, sale or storage of alcoholic beverages which would otherwise be prohibited under the minimum distance criterion. Such waiver shall be in written form from the owner, the governing body, or the appropriate officer of the church or funeral home having the authority to execute such a waiver, and the waiver shall be filed with and verified by the department before becoming effective.
(c) The distance restrictions imposed in this subsection shall not apply to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages at a bed and breakfast inn listed in the National Register of Historic Places or to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages in a historic district that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is a qualified resort area and is located in a municipality having a population greater than one hundred thousand (100,000) according to the latest federal decennial census.
(d) The distance restrictions imposed in this subsection shall not apply to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages at a qualified resort area as defined in Section
67-1-5(o)(iii)32.
(e) The distance restrictions imposed in this subsection shall not apply to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages at a licensed premises in a building formerly owned by a municipality and formerly leased by the municipality to a municipal school district and used by the municipal school district as a district bus shop facility.
(f) The distance restrictions imposed in this subsection shall not apply to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages at a licensed premises in a building consisting of at least five thousand (5,000) square feet and located approximately six hundred (600) feet from the intersection of Mississippi Highway 15 and Mississippi Highway 4.
(g) The distance restrictions imposed in this subsection shall not apply to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages at a licensed premises in a building located at or near the intersection of Ward and Tate Streets and adjacent properties in the City of Senatobia, Mississippi.
(h) The distance restrictions imposed in this subsection shall not apply to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages at a theatre facility that features plays and other theatrical performances and productions and (i) is capable of seating more than seven hundred fifty (750) people, (ii) is owned by a municipality which has a population greater than ten thousand (10,000) according to the latest federal decennial census, (iii) was constructed prior to 1930, (iv) is on the National Register of Historic Places, and (v) is located in a historic district.
(i) The distance restrictions imposed in this subsection shall not apply to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages at a licensed premises in a building located approximately one and six-tenths (1.6) miles north of the intersection of Mississippi Highway 15 and Mississippi Highway 4 on the west side of Mississippi Highway 15.
(4) No person, either individually or as a member of a firm, partnership, limited liability company or association, or as a stockholder, officer or director in a corporation, shall own or control any interest in more than one (1) package retailer's permit, nor shall such person's spouse, if living in the same household of such person, any relative of such person, if living in the same household of such person, or any other person living in the same household with such person own any interest in any other package retailer's permit.
(5) (a) In addition to any other authority granted under this section, the holder of a permit issued under subsection (1)(c), (e), (f), (g), (l), (n) and/or (o) of this section may sell or otherwise provide alcoholic beverages and/or wine to a patron of the permit holder in the manner authorized in the permit and the patron may remove an open glass, cup or other container of the alcoholic beverage and/or wine from the licensed premises and may possess and consume the alcoholic beverage or wine outside of the licensed premises if: (i) the licensed premises is located within a leisure and recreation district created under Section 67-1-101 and (ii) the patron remains within the boundaries of the leisure and recreation district while in possession of the alcoholic beverage or wine.
(b) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to allow a person to bring any alcoholic beverages into a permitted premises except to the extent otherwise authorized by this article.
SECTION 2. Section 67-1-41, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-41. (1) The department is hereby created a wholesale distributor and seller of alcoholic beverages, not including malt liquors, within the State of Mississippi. It is granted the right to import and sell alcoholic beverages at wholesale within the state, and no person who is granted the right to sell, distribute or receive alcoholic beverages at retail shall purchase any alcoholic beverages from any source other than the department, except as authorized in subsections (4), (9) and (12) of this section. The department may establish warehouses, and the department may purchase alcoholic beverages in such quantities and from such sources as it may deem desirable and sell the alcoholic beverages to authorized permittees within the state including, at the discretion of the department, any retail distributors operating within any military post or qualified resort areas within the boundaries of the state, keeping a correct and accurate record of all such transactions and exercising such control over the distribution of alcoholic beverages as seem right and proper in keeping with the provisions or purposes of this article.
(2) No person for the purpose of sale shall manufacture, distill, brew, sell, possess, export, transport, distribute, warehouse, store, solicit, take orders for, bottle, rectify, blend, treat, mix or process any alcoholic beverage except in accordance with authority granted under this article, or as otherwise provided by law for native wines or native spirits.
(3) No alcoholic beverage intended for sale or resale shall be imported, shipped or brought into this state for delivery to any person other than as provided in this article, or as otherwise provided by law for native wines or native spirits.
(4) The department may promulgate rules and regulations which authorize on-premises retailers to purchase limited amounts of alcoholic beverages from package retailers and for package retailers to purchase limited amounts of alcoholic beverages from other package retailers. The department shall develop and provide forms to be completed by the on-premises retailers and the package retailers verifying the transaction. The completed forms shall be forwarded to the department within a period of time prescribed by the department.
(5) The department may promulgate rules which authorize the holder of a package retailer's permit to permit individual retail purchasers of packages of alcoholic beverages to return, for exchange, credit or refund, limited amounts of original sealed and unopened packages of alcoholic beverages purchased by the individual from the package retailer.
(6) The department shall maintain all forms to be completed by applicants necessary for licensure by the department at all district offices of the department.
(7) The department may promulgate rules which authorize the manufacturer of an alcoholic beverage or wine to import, transport and furnish or give a sample of alcoholic beverages or wines to the holders of package retailer's permits, on-premises retailer's permits, native wine or native spirit retailer's permits and temporary retailer's permits who have not previously purchased the brand of that manufacturer from the department. For each holder of the designated permits, the manufacturer may furnish not more than five hundred (500) milliliters of any brand of alcoholic beverage and not more than three (3) liters of any brand of wine.
(8) The department may promulgate rules disallowing open product sampling of alcoholic beverages or wines by the holders of package retailer's permits and permitting open product sampling of alcoholic beverages by the holders of on-premises retailer's permits. Permitted sample products shall be plainly identified "sample" and the actual sampling must occur in the presence of the manufacturer's representatives during the legal operating hours of on-premises retailers.
(9) The department may promulgate rules and regulations that authorize the holder of a research permit to import and purchase limited amounts of alcoholic beverages from importers, wineries and distillers of alcoholic beverages or from the department. The department shall develop and provide forms to be completed by the research permittee verifying each transaction. The completed forms shall be forwarded to the department within a period of time prescribed by the department. The records and inventory of alcoholic beverages shall be open to inspection at any time by the Director of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division or any duly authorized agent.
(10) The department may promulgate rules facilitating a retailer's on-site pickup of alcoholic beverages sold by the department or as authorized by the department, including, but not limited to, native wines and native spirits, so that those alcoholic beverages may be delivered to the retailer at the manufacturer's location instead of via shipment from the department's warehouse.
(11) [Through June
30, * * * 2026]
This section shall not apply to alcoholic beverages authorized to be sold by
the holder of a distillery retailer's permit or a festival wine permit.
(11) [From and after
July 1, * * * 2026]
This section shall not apply to alcoholic beverages authorized to be sold by
the holder of a distillery retailer's permit.
(12) (a) An individual resident of this state who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age may purchase wine from a winery and have the purchase shipped into this state so long as it is shipped to a package retailer permittee in Mississippi; however, the permittee shall pay to the department all taxes, fees and surcharges on the wine that are imposed upon the sale of wine shipped by the department or its warehouse operator. No credit shall be provided to the permittee for any taxes paid to another state as a result of the transaction. Package retailers may charge a service fee for receiving and handling shipments from wineries on behalf of the purchasers. The department shall develop and provide forms to be completed by the package retailer permittees verifying the transaction. The completed forms shall be forwarded to the department within a period of time prescribed by the department.
(b) The purchaser of wine that is to be shipped to a package retailer's store shall be required to get the prior approval of the package retailer before any wine is shipped to the package retailer. A purchaser is limited to no more than ten (10) cases of wine per year to be shipped to a package retailer. A package retailer shall notify a purchaser of wine within two (2) days after receiving the shipment of wine. If the purchaser of the wine does not pick up or take the wine from the package retailer within thirty (30) days after being notified by the package retailer, the package retailer may sell the wine as part of his inventory.
(c) Shipments of wine into this state under this section shall be made by a duly licensed carrier. It shall be the duty of every common or contract carrier, and of every firm or corporation that shall bring, carry or transport wine from outside the state for delivery inside the state to package retailer permittees on behalf of consumers, to prepare and file with the department, on a schedule as determined by the department, of known wine shipments containing the name of the common or contract carrier, firm or corporation making the report, the period of time covered by said report, the name and permit number of the winery, the name and permit number of the package retailer permittee receiving such wine, the weight of the package delivered to each package retailer permittee, a unique tracking number, and the date of delivery. Reports received by the department shall be made available by the department to the public via the Mississippi Public Records Act process in the same manner as other state alcohol filings.
Upon the department's request, any records supporting the report shall be made available to the department within a reasonable time after the department makes a written request for such records. Any records containing information relating to such reports shall be kept and preserved for a period of two (2) years, unless their destruction sooner is authorized, in writing, by the department, and shall be open and available to inspection by the department upon the department's written request. Reports shall also be made available to any law enforcement or regulatory body in the state in which the railroad company, express company, common or contract carrier making the report resides or does business.
Any common or contract carrier that willfully fails to make reports, as provided by this section or any of the rules and regulations of the department for the administration and enforcement of this section, is subject to a notification of violation. In the case of a continuing failure to make reports, the common or contract carrier is subject to possible license suspension and revocation at the department's discretion.
(d) A winery that ships wine under this section shall be deemed to have consented to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state, of the department, of any other state agency regarding the enforcement of this section, and of any related law, rules or regulations.
(e) Any person who makes, participates in, transports, imports or receives a shipment in violation of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six (6) months, or both. Each shipment shall constitute a separate offense.
(13) If any provision of this article, or its application to any person or circumstance, is determined by a court to be invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions shall be construed in accordance with the intent of the Legislature to further limit rather than expand commerce in alcoholic beverages to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the state's residents, and to enhance strict regulatory control over taxation, distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages through the three-tier regulatory system imposed by this article upon all alcoholic beverages to curb relationships and practices calculated to stimulate sales and impair the state's policy favoring trade stability and the promotion of temperance.
SECTION 3. Section 67-1-77, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-77. (1) It shall be unlawful for the holder of a manufacturer's or wholesaler's permit, or anyone connected with the business of such holder, or for any other distiller, wine manufacturer, rectifier, blender or bottler, to have any financial interest in any premises upon which any alcoholic beverage is sold at retail by any permittee, or in the business conducted by such permittee, except that:
(a) The holder of a manufacturer's or wholesaler's permit may contract for the service of a representative in the area of governmental affairs on a part-time basis with a holder of an on-premises permit.
(b) A distiller, wine manufacturer, rectifier, blender or bottler may have a financial interest in a premises upon which alcoholic beverages are sold at retail by a permittee, or in the business conducted by a permittee, if the permittee does not sell or serve any alcoholic beverages that are distilled, manufactured, rectified, blended or bottled by the distiller, wine manufacturer, rectifier, blender or bottler having the financial interest in the premises or in the business conducted by a permittee.
(c) [Through June
30, * * * 2026]
A distiller, wine manufacturer, rectifier, blender or bottler may have a
financial interest in and possess a distillery retailer's permit and a wine
festival permit.
(c) [From and after
July 1, * * * 2026]
A distiller, wine manufacturer, rectifier, blender or bottler may have a
financial interest in and possess a distillery retailer's permit.
(d) The holder of a manufacturer's permit which is located adjacent to the Mississippi Museum of Art and is bordered by Court Street, Farish Street, South Street and Town Creek may have a financial interest in a premises upon which alcoholic beverages are sold at retail.
(2) It shall also be unlawful for any such person, or anyone connected with his, its, or their business to lend any money or make any gift or offer any gratuity, to any retail permittee, except as authorized by regulations of the commission, to the holder of any retail permit issued under the provisions of this article. Except as above provided, no retail permittee shall accept, receive, or make use of any money or gift furnished by any such person, or become indebted to such person except for the purchase of alcoholic beverages.
(3) The commission shall not prohibit the furnishing of advertising specialties, printed materials, or other things having nominal value to a retail permittee. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the possession by any person of advertising specialties, printed materials, or other things having nominal value furnished by a retail permittee.
(4) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or by imprisonment for not more than two (2) years, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.
SECTION 4. Section 27-71-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-71-5. (1) Upon each person approved for a permit under the provisions of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law and amendments thereto, there is levied and imposed for each location for the privilege of engaging and continuing in this state in the business authorized by such permit, an annual privilege license tax in the amount provided in the following schedule:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (1), manufacturer's permit, Class 1, distiller's and/or
rectifier's:
(i) For a permittee with annual production of
five thousand (5,000) gallons or more.................. $4,500.00
(ii) For a permittee with annual production under five thousand (5,000) gallons............................... $2,800.00
(b) Manufacturer's permit, Class 2, wine
manufacturer.......................................... $1,800.00
(c) Manufacturer's permit, Class 3, native wine
manufacturer per ten thousand (10,000) gallons or part thereof produced...................................................... $ 10.00
(d) Manufacturer's permit, Class 4, native spirit
manufacturer per one thousand (1,000) gallons or part thereof produced...................................................... $ 300.00
(e) Native wine retailer's permit............ $ 50.00
(f) Package retailer's permit, each.......... $ 900.00
(g) On-premises retailer's permit, except for clubs and common carriers, each......................................... $ 450.00
(h) On-premises retailer's permit for wine of more than five percent (5%) alcohol by weight, but not more than twenty-one percent (21%) alcohol by weight, each.............................. $ 225.00
(i) On-premises retailer's permit for clubs.. $ 225.00
(j) On-premises retailer's permit for common carriers, per car, plane, or other vehicle........................... $ 120.00
(k) Solicitor's permit, regardless of any other provision of law, solicitor's permits shall be issued only in the discretion of the department............................................ $ 100.00
(l) Filing fee for each application except for an employee identification card.................................... $ 25.00
(m) Temporary permit, Class 1, each.......... $ 10.00
(n) Temporary permit, Class 2, each.......... $ 50.00
(o) (i) Caterer's permit................... $ 600.00
(ii) Caterer's permit for holders of on-premises retailer's permit...................................... $ 150.00
(p) Research permit......................... $ 100.00
(q) Temporary permit, Class 3 (wine only).... $ 10.00
(r) Special service permit.................. $ 225.00
(s) Merchant permit......................... $ 225.00
(t) Temporary alcoholic beverages charitable auction permit...................................................... $ 10.00
(u) Event venue retailer's permit............ $ 225.00
(v) Temporary theatre permit, each........... $ 10.00
(w) Charter ship operator's permit........... $ 100.00
(x) Distillery retailer's permit............. $ 450.00
(y) Festival wine permit.................... $ 10.00
(z) Charter vessel operator's permit......... $ 100.00
(aa) Native spirit retailer's permit......... $ 50.00
(bb) Delivery service permit................. $ 500.00
(cc) Food truck permit........................$ 100.00
In addition to the filing fee imposed by paragraph (l) of this subsection, a fee to be determined by the Department of Revenue may be charged to defray costs incurred to process applications. The additional fees shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of a special fund account, which is hereby created, and expenditures therefrom shall be made only to defray the costs incurred by the Department of Revenue in processing alcoholic beverage applications. Any unencumbered balance remaining in the special fund account on June 30 of any fiscal year shall lapse into the State General Fund.
All privilege taxes imposed by this section shall be paid in advance of doing business. A new permittee whose privilege tax is determined by production volume will pay the tax for the first year in accordance with department regulations. The additional privilege tax imposed for an on-premises retailer's permit based upon purchases shall be due and payable on demand.
Paragraph (y) of this subsection
shall stand repealed from and after July 1, * * * 2026.
(2) (a) There is imposed and shall be collected from each permittee, except a common carrier, solicitor, a temporary permittee or a delivery service permittee, by the department, an additional license tax equal to the amounts imposed under subsection (1) of this section for the privilege of doing business within any municipality or county in which the licensee is located.
(b) (i) In addition to the tax imposed in paragraph (a) of this subsection, there is imposed and shall be collected by the department from each permittee described in subsection (1)(g), (h), (i), (n) and (u) of this section, an additional license tax for the privilege of doing business within any municipality or county in which the licensee is located in the amount of Two Hundred Twenty-five Dollars ($225.00) on purchases exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) and Two Hundred Twenty-five Dollars ($225.00) for each additional purchase of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or fraction thereof.
(ii) In addition to the tax imposed in paragraph (a) of this subsection, there is imposed and shall be collected by the department from each permittee described in subsection (1)(o) and (s) of this section, an additional license tax for the privilege of doing business within any municipality or county in which the licensee is located in the amount of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) on purchases exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) and Two Hundred Twenty-five Dollars ($225.00) for each additional purchase of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or fraction thereof.
(iii) Any person who has paid the additional privilege license tax imposed by this paragraph, and whose permit is renewed, may add any unused fraction of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) purchases to the first Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) purchases authorized by the renewal permit, and no additional license tax will be required until purchases exceed the sum of the two (2) figures.
(c) If the licensee is located within a municipality, the department shall pay the amount of additional license tax collected under this section to the municipality, and if outside a municipality the department shall pay the additional license tax to the county in which the licensee is located. Payments by the department to the respective local government subdivisions shall be made once each month for any collections during the preceding month.
(3) When an application for any permit, other than for renewal of a permit, has been rejected by the department, such decision shall be final. Appeal may be made in the manner provided by Section 67-1-39. Another application from an applicant who has been denied a permit shall not be reconsidered within a twelve-month period.
(4) The number of permits issued by the department shall not be restricted or limited on a population basis; however, the foregoing limitation shall not be construed to preclude the right of the department to refuse to issue a permit because of the undesirability of the proposed location.
(5) If any person shall engage or continue in any business which is taxable under this section without having paid the tax as provided in this section, the person shall be liable for the full amount of the tax plus a penalty thereon equal to the amount thereof, and, in addition, shall be punished by a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term of not more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.
(6) It shall be unlawful for any person to consume alcoholic beverages on the premises of any hotel restaurant, restaurant, club or the interior of any public place defined in Chapter 1, Title 67, Mississippi Code of 1972, when the owner or manager thereof displays in several conspicuous places inside the establishment and at the entrances of establishment a sign containing the following language: NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ALLOWED.
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.