BILL ANALYSIS
By: Estes, Madla
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Current law authorizes wineries to serve only wine on the premises. However, wineries in Texas are visited for reasons other the tasting and buying wines. Many wineries have restaurants on-site or host receptions for various events at which food is served.
S.B. 1596 authorizes the holder of a winery permit to sell and serve beer, if the winery is located in an area that is wet for beer, and food is served with the beer. The bill also allows the holder of a winery permit to contract with the holder of a caterer's permit for service by the caterer of mixed beverages and food at an event on the winery premises.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 16.01, Alcoholic Beverage Code, by adding Subsections (f), (g), and (h), as follows:
(f) Authorizes the holder of a winery permit, notwithstanding any other provision of this code, to sell and serve beer if the winery is in an area that is wet for beer, and beer is provided only during the service of food to the customer.
(g) Provides that, for the purposes of provisions of this code governing the sale or purchase of beer, the purchase by a winery of beer for service under Subsection (f) is considered to be a purchase by a holder of a retail dealer's on-premise license.
(h) Authorizes the holder of a winery permit to contract with the holder of a caterer's permit for service by the caterer of mixed beverages and food at an event on the winery premises.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2005.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2005.