H 7975

2026 -- H 7975 SUBSTITUTE A
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 LC005547/SUB A/2
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  STATE  OF        RHODE  ISLAND
  IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
  ____________
  AN ACT
  RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES
  Introduced By: Representatives Speakman, Spears, and Boylan
  Date Introduced: February 27, 2026
  Referred To: House Small Business
 It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1SECTION 1. Chapter 3-7 of the General Laws entitled "Retail Licenses" is hereby amended
2 by adding thereto the following section:
33-7-30. Licensed retailers to provide drink covers upon request.
4(a) All holders of retail licenses authorized to sell intoxicating beverages to customers for
5 the purpose of onsite consumption shall upon request, provide a lid with a customer’s drink. For
6 purposes of this section, “lid” means a removable cover of any size that attaches to the rim of a
7 corresponding beverage container. The lid is not required to fit all containers in which alcoholic
8 beverages are served on the premises but shall fit at least one.
9(b) The licensee may charge an additional fee for providing a lid with a customer’s drink,
10 which shall not exceed a reasonable amount based on the wholesale cost of those lids.
11(c) This section does not prevent a licensee from offering lids to their customers free of
12 charge.
13(d) A sole violation of this section shall result in a warning by the department for the first
14 offense.
15SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027.
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 LC005547/SUB A/2
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  EXPLANATION
  BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
  OF
  AN ACT
  RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES
  ***
1This act would require licensed retailers authorized to sell intoxicating beverages to
2 provide a lid to a consumer upon request.
3This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.
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