Liquor Enforcement and Compliance

The Division of Commercial Licensing and Regulation is responsible for regulating and monitoring the manufacturing, importing, exporting, storing, selling and transporting of alcoholic beverages. The Section is responsible for the assessment and collection of fees specified by Rhode Island state law. The Section is also responsible for the inspection of retail and wholesale establishments and the issuance of licenses to manufacturers, wholesalers, marine vessels and railroads as well as airplanes.

The Section handles retail license appeals from actions taken by local boards. The Section also investigates complaints, licensing and examining its regulated entities.

- Maria D'Alessandro, Deputy Director, Securities, Commercial Licensing and Racing and Athletics

Statute

• Statutory Authority RIGL Title 3

Regulations

• Commercial Licensing Regulation 8 - Liquor Control Administration
  (Effective 12/10/07)
• Commercial Licensing Regulation 14 - Brew on Premises
  (Effective 01/08/07)

Bulletins

• 2010-4 Reward Points Promotional Programs
  (Issued 09-28-10)
• 2010-3 Charitable or Non Profit Events
  (Issued 03-22-10)
• 2010-1 Wine Dinners
  (Issued 01-29-10)
• 2009-1 Promotion of Alcoholic Beverage Business
  (Issued 11-13-09)
• 2005-2 Name Change
  (Issued 12-24-08)
• Important Notice - Prohibitions Relating to Drink Specials and Bottle Sales
• Notice of Late Fees - Effective January 1, 2008 for RI State Issued Liquor Licenses and Certificates of Compliance
• Schedule of Increased Fees for Liquor Licenses Effective July 30, 2004
• Alcohol Server Training Programs

Recently Enacted Legislation

• RIGL Title 3 § 3-5-11.1 Liquor franchises prohibited
• RIGL Title 3 § 3-7-6.1 Alcohol Server Training

Certificate of Compliance and Affirmation

• Statutory authority RIGL 3-6-14
• Annual fee: $40 per label
• Expiration: December 1
• Apply/Renew online

Manufacturer's License

• Statutory authority RIGL 3-6-1
• Distillery - annual fee $3,000
• Brewery - annual fee $500
• Winery - $1,500 - producing more than 50,000 gallons
• Winery - $500 - producing less than 50,000 gallons
• Expiration - December 1
• Required Forms:
  • Application Package for Alcoholic Beverage License by Corporation or
  • Application Package for Alcoholic Beverage License by Individual or Partnership
    

Farmer-Winery License

• Statutory authority RIGL 3-6-1.1
• Annual fee - based on reasonable estimate of amount of wine to be produced Annual fee - $1,500 if producing more than 50,000 gallons,
  $500 if producing less than 50,000 gallons per year
• Expiration - December 1
• Required Forms:
  • Application Package for Alcoholic Beverage License by Corporation or
  • Application Package for Alcoholic Beverage License by Individual or Partnership

Brewpub Manufacturer's License

• Statutory authority RIGL 3-6-1.2
• Annual fee - $1,000 if producing more than 50,000 gallons, $500 if producing less than 50,000 gallons per year
• Expiration - December 1
• Required Forms:
  • Application Package for Alcoholic Beverage License by Corporation or
  • Application Package for Alcoholic Beverage License by Individual or Partnership

Rectifier's License

• Statutory authority RIGL 3-6-3
• Annual fee- $3,000
• Expiration - December 1
• Required Forms:
  • Application Package for Alcoholic Beverage License by Corporation or
  • Application Package for Alcoholic Beverage License by Individual or Partnership

Wholesaler's License

Class A - wholesaler license

• Statutory authority RIGL 3-6-9
• Annual fee - $2000
• Expiration - December 1
• Required Forms:
  • Application Package for Alcoholic Beverage License by Corporation or
  • Application Package for Alcoholic Beverage License by Individual or Partnership

Class B - wholesaler license

• Statutory authority RIGL 3-6-10
• Annual fee - $4,000
• Expiration - December 1
• Required Forms:
  • Application Package for Alcoholic Beverage License by Corporation or
  • Application Package for Alcoholic Beverage License by Individual or Partnership

Class C - wholesale sale for other than beverage purposes

• Statutory authority RIGL 3-6-11
• Annual fee - $200
• Expiration - December 1
• Required Forms:
  • Application Package for Alcoholic Beverage License by Corporation or
  • Application Package for Alcoholic Beverage License by Individual or Partnership

Class G - railroad, airline, marine vessel

• Statutory authority RIGL 3-7-15
• Annual fee - $250 plus $1.00 for each duplicate
• Expiration - 1 year anniversary date of license
• Application
  

Class GD - vessel providing overnight accommodations to passengers

• Statutory authority RIGL 3-7-15.1
• Annual fee - $100
• Expiration - December 1
• Application

Class P - Caterer's License

• Statutory Authority RIGL § 3-7-14.2
• Annual fee - $500
• Expiration - November 30
• Application

Agent's License

1. Statutory authority RIGL 3-6-12
2. Annual fee - $50
3. Expiration - December 1
4. Application

Salesperson License

• Statutory Authority: Commercial Licensing Regulation 8 - Rule 31
• Annual fee - $50
• Expiration - December 1
• Application

Line Cleaners License

• Statutory Authority: RIGL § 3-7-25
• Annual fee - $50
• Expiration - 1 year anniversary date of license
• Application

• Liquor Complaint Form