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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
Senate: RAGE DPA 7-0-0-0 | Third Read 22-4-4-0-0House: COM DP 10-0-0-1 |
SB 1478: liquor; policies; procedures
Sponsor: Senator Bolick, LD 2
Caucus & COW
Overview
Revises liquor statutes relating to regulations and definitions.
History
The Department of Liquor Licenses and Control (DLLC), which consists of the State Liquor Board and the Office of the Director of the Department regulates the manufacture, distribution and sale of liquor in this state through the issuance of 21 license types or series.
Federal regulations define nonbeverage products as products including, medicines, medicinal preparations, food products, flavors, flavoring extracts or perfume, which are manufactured using taxpaid distilled spirits and that are unfit for use as a beverage (27 CFR § 17.11).
Provisions
Liquor Regulations
1. Allows the Director to issue interim permits to applicants for certain licensees regardless of whether that license has been used in the past three years if specified conditions exist. (Sec. 4)
2. Modifies a condition which must exist for issuing interim permits. (Sec. 4)
3. Clarifies a licensed farm winery may label a wine offered for sale that is produced from grapes or other fruit grown within a federally recognized viticultural area located in this State. (Sec. 11)
4. Repeals statute which subjects licensed producers, craft distillers, brewers and farm wineries production and storage spaces to federal food safety rules. (Sec. 15)
5. Exempts nonbeverage products as defined by federal law and that are qualified by the United States Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau as nonbeverage products from the Alcoholic Beverages statutes. (Sec. 16)
Liquor Regulatory Definitions
6. Modifies the definition of cider to include any beverage that contains more than .5% of alcohol by volume and not more than 8.5%, rather than 7%, of alcohol by volume. (Sec. 1)
7. Excludes, from the definitions of distilled spirits and spirituous liquor, bitters containing alcohol and fruits preserved in ardent spirits. (Sec. 1)
8. Includes, in the definition of distilled spirits, beverages that contain more than .5% of alcohol by volume and that are produced by the distillation or rectification of fermented material. (Sec. 1)
9. Includes, in the definition of spirituous liquor, cider. (Sec. 1)
10. Excludes, from the definition of spirituous liquor, nonbeverage products as defined by federal law and that are qualified by the United States Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau as nonbeverage products. (Sec. 1)
11. Includes, in the definition of veteran, a person who has served in the U.S. Space Force who has received a discharge other than dishonorable. (Sec. 1)
Luxury Privilege Tax Definitions
12. Includes a definition of beer with the same meaning as prescribed in the Alcoholic Beverages statutes. (Sec. 18)
13. Conforms the definitions of cider, craft distiller and spirituous liquor to the same meanings as prescribed in the Alcoholic Beverages statutes. (Sec. 18)
14. Redefines malt liquor as any beverage that is obtained by the alcoholic fermentation, infusion or decoction of barley malt, hops, rice, bran or other grain, glucose, sugar or molasses, or any combination of them, and may include, as adjuncts in fermentation, honey, fruit, fruit juice, fruit concentrate, herbs, spices and other food materials. (Sec. 18)
15. Adds that malt liquor includes beer that is aged in an empty wooden barrel previously used to contain wine or distilled spirits and as such is not considered a dilution or mixture of any other spirituous liquor. (Sec. 18)
16. Redefines vinous liquor as the product obtained by the fermentation of grapes, other agricultural products that contains natural or added sugar or cider or any such alcoholic beverage fortified with grape brandy and that contains not more than 24% of alcohol by volume. (Sec. 18)
17. Adds that vinous liquor does not include cider. (Sec. 18)
Miscellaneous
18. Replaces the term manufacturer with producer. (Sec. 1, 2, 3, 19, 20)
19. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1-14, 16, 17, 20)
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23. Initials PB SB 1478
24. 3/12/2026 Page 0 Caucus & COW
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