S. 355 amends South Carolina’s alcohol laws governing micro-distilleries and manufacturers that offer tastings and retail sales on licensed premises. The bill keeps the basic requirement that tastings and sales occur only in connection with an on-site tour, only for consumers age 21 and older, and only for products actually made at the licensed premises. It also preserves limits on one tasting per day per consumer, requires nonalcoholic mixers to be free, and continues to bar free liquor at tastings.
The main changes are to the hours of operation and the amount of liquor that may be sold or dispensed to one consumer in a day. Under the amended language, tastings and retail sales may occur from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sundays. The bill also revises the daily dispensing limit to no more than four and one-half ounces per consumer, and it adjusts the tour-pricing structure so the charge must scale in half-ounce increments based on the amount of liquor provided for on-premises consumption.
In practical terms, the bill would update Section 61-6-1140 of the South Carolina Code, which regulates micro-distillery and manufacturer tasting rooms and retail sales. It does not create a new licensing category, but it changes the operating rules for existing licensees and reinforces compliance with discount-pricing rules in Section 61-6-4550. The act would take effect upon approval by the Governor.
The general sentiment reflected in the vote suggests moderate support for the measure, with the Senate passing second reading by a 32-10 margin. The available record does not include committee debate or floor remarks, so the discussion history does not show detailed arguments for or against the bill. The vote indicates the bill had enough support to advance, but not unanimous agreement.
The likely points of contention are the expanded or clarified operating hours, the amount of liquor that can be dispensed in a day, and how tightly the state should regulate pricing and tasting-room practices. Supporters likely view the bill as a business-friendly update for craft distilleries and manufacturers, while opponents may be concerned about alcohol availability, consumer safety, and whether the changes loosen controls on on-site sales and tastings.
Impact
The bill amends Section 61-6-1140 of the South Carolina Code, which governs tastings and retail sales at licensed micro-distilleries and manufacturers. It changes the permitted hours for tastings and sales, revises the daily maximum amount of liquor that may be dispensed to a consumer, and adjusts the required tour-pricing scale tied to the amount of alcohol served. The bill also preserves existing restrictions on age verification, one tasting per day, free mixers, and sales only of products actually produced at the licensed premises. It would directly affect micro-distillery and manufacturer license holders, as well as consumers participating in on-site tastings and retail purchases.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have generally favorable momentum, as shown by its 32-10 passage on Senate second reading. With no committee transcript available, there is no recorded detailed debate, but the vote suggests a majority of senators supported the measure. The pattern is consistent with a business-regulatory update that drew some opposition but not enough to block advancement.
Contention
The main areas of disagreement likely center on alcohol regulation and business flexibility. Supporters may favor the bill as a way to give micro-distilleries and manufacturers more workable tasting-room hours and clearer sales rules, while critics may worry that longer or more clearly defined hours increase alcohol access and complicate enforcement. The revised daily dispensing limit and the pricing structure tied to ounces served may also be contentious, because they affect both consumer cost and how closely the state controls on-premises alcohol service.
Small Craft Alcoholic Beverage Producers; licensing of small craft distilleries, small craft wineries, and small craft alcoholic beverage producers authorized
AN ACT to amend and reenact sections 5-01-01 and 5-01-19.1, and subsection 2 of section 5-01-19.2 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the definitions of a domestic and manufacturing distillery and satellite locations.