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AlabamaSB3122025 Regular SessionSenate

Alcoholic beverage licenses; to license storage of alcoholic beverages to dispense at special events, including government venues

Sponsored By: Rodger M. Smitherman (Democratic)

Enacted

Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Alcohol sellers pay set license fees

Effective July 1, 2025, Alabama's annual alcohol license schedule sets government venue fees at $250 and event storage fees at $550. Event storage licenses remain unavailable until January 1, 2026. Beer and wine wholesalers each pay $550; combined beer-and-wine wholesalers pay $750. Each also pays $200 for every warehouse beyond its main warehouse. Manufacturer, importer, and liquor wholesale licenses each cost $500; warehouse licenses cost $200. Lounge and restaurant liquor licenses each cost $300; club licenses cost $300 for Class I and $750 for Class II. Retail table wine licenses cost $150 for either off-site-only or combined on-site and off-site sales. Common carrier liquor licenses cost $150 per carrier entity and cover carriers with capacity for at least 10 passengers. Special retail licenses cost $100 for 30 days or less and $250 for longer periods. Special events retail licenses cost $150. Fees must be paid before issuance or renewal. Counties and cities can levy local license taxes tied to a board-issued permit, but cannot tax liquor stores beyond the state framework.

Government venues gain limited alcohol licenses

Beginning July 1, 2025, Alabama provides a $250 government venue license for occasional alcohol sales. It covers public events and private parties on property owned or leased by state or local government. Examples include stadiums, civic centers, parks, and fairgrounds. License holders can sell and serve alcohol for drinking on-site, but cannot provide regular, continuous service. They can buy liquor and wine from the state alcohol board, and table wine and beer from licensed wholesalers. Holders of the specified special retail license can convert by September 30, 2026, while meeting government venue licensing requirements. Applicants must follow state alcohol law, pay the fee, and follow board rules and license terms. The board must adopt rules for this license.

Event sellers gain regulated alcohol storage

Beginning January 1, 2026, eligible Alabama event sellers can get alcohol storage licenses lasting up to one year. Eligible holders have special events retail, nonprofit special events retail, government venue, or special retail licenses lasting 30 days or less. Each storage license costs $550 and covers one location. Sellers can have up to three locations, at least 100 miles apart, but cannot transfer alcohol between them. Storage and event licenses must share the same federal employer identification number. Alcohol can move between storage and licensed event venues, but venue-to-venue transfers must go through storage first. Beer and table wine must come from wholesalers holding the area's brand rights; liquor must come from state board wholesale. The board or licensed wholesalers can deliver to storage or directly to venues. Storage sites must be secured, access-controlled, monitored, appropriately temperature-controlled, and meet local zoning and building codes. Sellers must keep purchase, storage, transfer, and sales records for three years. Transfer logs must identify licenses, dates, beverage types, brands, quantities, destinations, returns, and compliance certification. The Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board adopts rules and can inspect records and storage premises, including adjacent buildings and dwellings, during business hours. Record discrepancies can bring warnings, required corrections, or citations. Recurring discrepancies can bring civil fines up to $1,000 per violation and possible license revocation.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Rodger M. Smitherman

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Lance Bell

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 258 • No: 5

House vote • 4/29/2025

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1131

Yes: 82 • No: 4 • Other: 17

House vote • 4/29/2025

Third Reading in Second House

Yes: 86 • No: 1 • Other: 16

Senate vote • 4/15/2025

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 723

Yes: 30 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/15/2025

Smitherman motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 722

Yes: 30 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/15/2025

Third Reading in House of Origin

Yes: 30 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Enacted

    5/14/2025Senate

  2. Signature Requested

    5/1/2025House

  3. Delivered to Governor

    5/1/2025Senate

  4. Ready to Enroll

    4/30/2025Senate

  5. Enrolled

    4/30/2025Senate

  6. Carried Over to the Call of the Chair

    4/29/2025House

  7. Third Reading in Second House

    4/29/2025House

  8. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1131

    4/29/2025House

  9. Reported Out of Committee Second House

    4/24/2025House

  10. Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

    4/24/2025House

  11. Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Economic Development and Tourism

    4/17/2025House

  12. Pending Committee Action in Second House

    4/17/2025House

  13. Third Reading in House of Origin

    4/15/2025Senate

  14. Smitherman 1st Substitute Offered

    4/15/2025Senate

  15. Smitherman motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 722

    4/15/2025Senate

  16. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 723

    4/15/2025Senate

  17. Engrossed

    4/15/2025Senate

  18. Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

    4/9/2025Senate

  19. Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

    4/9/2025Senate

  20. Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development

    4/8/2025Senate

  21. Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

    4/8/2025Senate

Bill Text

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