2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 44 - REVENUE - REGULATION OF ACTIVITIES (§§ 44-1-101 — 44-50-1001) › ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO REGULATION (§§ 44-3-101 — 44-7-107) › Article 3 - ALCOHOL BEVERAGES (§§ 44-3-101 — 44-3-1002) › Part 4 - CLASSES OF LICENSES AND PERMITS (§§ 44-3-401 — 44-3-432) › Section 44-3-410 - [Effective 8/7/2024] Liquor-licensed drugstore license - multiple licenses permitted - requirements - rules

(1)
(a)
(I)
A liquor-licensed drugstore license shall be issued to persons selling malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors in sealed containers not to be consumed at the place where sold. On and after July 1, 2016, except as permitted under subsection (1)(b) of this section, the state and local licensing authorities shall not issue a new liquor-licensed drugstore license if the licensed premises for which a liquor-licensed drugstore license is sought is located:
(A)
Within one thousand five hundred feet of a retail liquor store licensed under section
44-3-409
;
(B)
For a drugstore premises located in a municipality with a population of ten thousand or fewer, within three thousand feet of a retail liquor store licensed under section
44-3-409
; or
(C)
For a drugstore premises located in a municipality with a population of ten thousand or fewer that is contiguous to the city and county of Denver, within one thousand five hundred feet of a retail liquor store licensed under section
44-3-409
.
(II)
Nothing in this subsection (1) prohibits:
(A)
The renewal or transfer of ownership of a liquor-licensed drugstore license initially issued prior to July 1, 2016.
(B)
A liquor-licensed drugstore licensee from allowing tastings on the licensed premises if the applicable local licensing authority has authorized the liquor-licensed drugstore to conduct tastings on its licensed premises in accordance with section
44-3-301 (10)
.
(b)
(I)
On or after January 1, 2017, to qualify for an additional liquor-licensed drugstore license under this section, a liquor-licensed drugstore licensee, or a retail liquor store licensee that was licensed as a liquor-licensed drugstore on February 21, 2016, must apply to the state and local licensing authorities, as part of a single application, for a transfer of ownership of at least two licensed retail liquor stores that were licensed or had applied for a license on or before May 1, 2016, a change of location of one of the retail liquor stores, and a merger and conversion of the retail liquor store licenses into a single liquor-licensed drugstore license. The applicant may apply for a transfer, change of location, and merger and conversion only if all of the following requirements are met:
(A)
The retail liquor stores that are the subject of the transfer of ownership are located within the same local licensing authority jurisdiction as the drugstore premises for which the applicant is seeking a liquor-licensed drugstore license, and, if any retail liquor stores are located within one thousand five hundred feet of the drugstore premises or, for a drugstore premises located in a municipality with a population of ten thousand or fewer, within three thousand feet of the drugstore premises, the applicant applies to transfer ownership of all retail liquor stores located within that distance. If there are no licensed retail liquor stores or only one licensed retail liquor store within the same local licensing authority jurisdiction as the drugstore premises for which a liquor-licensed drugstore license is sought, the applicant shall apply to transfer ownership of one or two retail liquor stores, as necessary, that are located in the local licensing authority jurisdiction that is nearest to the jurisdiction in which the drugstore premises is located.
(B)
Upon transfer and conversion of the retail liquor store licenses to a single liquor-licensed drugstore license, the drugstore premises for which the liquor-licensed drugstore license is sought will be located at least one thousand five hundred feet from all licensed retail liquor stores that are within the same local licensing authority jurisdiction as the drugstore premises or, for a drugstore premises located in a municipality with a population of ten thousand or fewer, at least three thousand feet from all licensed retail liquor stores that are within the same local licensing authority jurisdiction as the drugstore premises.
(II)
For purposes of determining whether the distance requirements specified in subsection (1)(b)(I) of this section are satisfied, the distance shall be determined by a radius measurement that begins at the principal doorway of the drugstore premises for which the application is made and ends at the principal doorway of the licensed retail liquor store.
(III)
In making its determination on the transfer of ownership, change of location, and license merger and conversion application, the local licensing authority shall consider the reasonable requirements of the neighborhood and the desires of the adult inhabitants in accordance with section
44-3-312
.
(IV)
In addition to any other requirements for licensure under this section or this article 3, a person applying for a new liquor-licensed drugstore license in accordance with this subsection (1)(b) on or after January 1, 2017, or to renew a liquor-licensed drugstore license issued on or after January 1, 2017, under this subsection (1)(b) must:
(A)
Provide evidence to the state and local licensing authorities that at least twenty percent of the licensee's gross annual income derived from total sales during the prior twelve months at the drugstore premises for which a new or renewal licenses is sought is from the sale of food items, as defined by the state licensing authority by rule; and
(B)
Make and keep its premises open to the public.
(2)
(a)
A person licensed under this section to sell malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors as provided in this section shall:
(I)
Purchase malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors only from a wholesaler licensed under this article 3;
(II)
(A)
Not sell malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors to consumers at a price that is below the liquor-licensed drugstore's cost, as listed on the invoice, to purchase the malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors, unless the sale is of discontinued or close-out malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors.
(B)
This subsection (2)(a)(II) does not prohibit a liquor-licensed drugstore from operating a bona fide loyalty or rewards program for malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors so long as the price for the product is not below the liquor-licensed drugstore's costs as listed on the invoice. The state licensing authority may adopt rules to implement this subsection (2)(a)(II).
(III)
Not allow consumers to purchase malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors at a self-checkout or other mechanism that allows the consumer to complete the alcohol beverage purchase without assistance from and completion of the entire transaction by an employee of the liquor-licensed drugstore;
(IV)
Require, in accordance with section
44-3-901 (11)
, consumers attempting to purchase malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors to present a valid identification, as determined by the state licensing authority by rule; and
(V)
Not sell clothing or accessories imprinted with advertising, logos, slogans, trademarks, or messages related to alcohol beverages.
(b)
A person licensed under this section on or after January 1, 2017, shall not purchase malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors from a wholesaler on credit and shall effect payment upon delivery of the alcohol beverages. The acceptance and use of an electronic funds transfer is not an extension or acceptance of credit as prohibited by this subsection (2)(b) if the transfer is initiated on or before the next business day after the delivery of the malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors.
(3)
(a)
A liquor-licensed drugstore licensee who complies with this subsection (3) and rules promulgated pursuant to this subsection (3) may deliver malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors to a person of legal age if:
(I)
The person receiving the delivery of malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors is located at a place that is not licensed pursuant to this section;
(II)
The delivery is made by an employee of the liquor-licensed drugstore who is at least twenty-one years of age and who is using a vehicle owned or leased by the licensee to make the delivery;
(III)
The person making the delivery verifies, in accordance with section
44-3-901 (11)
, that the person receiving the delivery of malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors is at least twenty-one years of age; and
(IV)
The liquor-licensed drugstore derives no more than fifty percent of its gross annual revenues from total sales of malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors from the sale of malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors that the liquor-licensed drugstore delivers.
(b)
The state licensing authority shall promulgate rules as necessary for the proper delivery of malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors and is authorized to issue a permit to any liquor-licensed drugstore licensee that will allow the licensee to deliver the liquors pursuant to the rules and this subsection (3). A permit issued under this subsection (3) is subject to the same suspension and revocation provisions as are set forth in sections
44-3-306
and
44-3-601
for other licenses granted pursuant to this article 3.
(4)
(a)
Except as provided in subsection (4)(b) of this section, it is unlawful for any owner, part owner, shareholder, or person interested directly or indirectly in a liquor-licensed drugstore to conduct, own either in whole or in part, or be directly or indirectly interested in any other business licensed pursuant to this article 3.
(b)
An owner, part owner, shareholder, or person interested directly or indirectly in a liquor-licensed drugstore may have an interest in:
(I)
An arts license granted under this article 3;
(II)
An airline public transportation system license granted under this article 3;
(III)
A financial institution referred to in section
44-3-308 (4)
;
(IV)
For a liquor-licensed drugstore licensed on or before January 1, 2016, or a liquor-licensed drugstore licensee that was licensed as a liquor-licensed drugstore on February 21, 2016, that converted its license to a retail liquor store license after February 21, 2016, and that applied on or before May 1, 2017, to convert its retail liquor store license back to a liquor-licensed drugstore license, additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses as follows, but only if obtained in accordance with subsection (1)(b) of this section:
(A)
On or after January 1, 2017, and before January 1, 2022, four additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses, for a maximum of five total liquor-licensed drugstore licenses;
(B)
On or after January 1, 2022, and before January 1, 2027, up to seven additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses, for a maximum of eight total liquor-licensed drugstore licenses;
(C)
On or after January 1, 2027, and before January 1, 2032, up to twelve additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses, for a maximum of thirteen total liquor-licensed drugstore licenses;
(D)
On or after January 1, 2032, and before January 1, 2037, up to nineteen additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses, for a maximum of twenty total liquor-licensed drugstore licenses; and
(E)
On or after January 1, 2037, an unlimited number of additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses.
(V)
For a liquor-licensed drugstore that submitted an application for a new liquor-licensed drugstore license before October 1, 2016, additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses as follows, but only if obtained in accordance with subsection (1)(b) of this section:
(A)
On or after January 1, 2019, and before January 1, 2022, four additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses, for a maximum of five total liquor-licensed drugstore licenses;
(B)
On or after January 1, 2022, and before January 1, 2027, up to seven additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses, for a maximum of eight total liquor-licensed drugstore licenses;
(C)
On or after January 1, 2027, and before January 1, 2032, up to twelve additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses, for a maximum of thirteen total liquor-licensed drugstore licenses;
(D)
On or after January 1, 2032, and before January 1, 2037, up to nineteen additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses, for a maximum of twenty total liquor-licensed drugstore licenses; and
(E)
On or after January 1, 2037, an unlimited number of additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses.
(c)
Subsection (4)(b)(V) of this section does not apply to a liquor-licensed drugstore licensee that was licensed as a liquor-licensed drugstore on February 21, 2016, that converted its license to a retail liquor store license after February 21, 2016, and that applied on or before May 1, 2017, to convert its retail liquor store license back to a liquor-licensed drugstore license.
(5)
(a)
A liquor-licensed drugstore licensed under this section shall not store alcohol beverages off the licensed premises.
(b)
A licensed wholesaler shall make all deliveries of alcohol beverages to a liquor-licensed drugstore:
(I)
Through a common carrier, a contract carrier, or on vehicles owned by the wholesaler; and
(II)
Only to the business address of the liquor-licensed drugstore.
(6)
(a)
A liquor-licensed drugstore licensed under this section on or after January 1, 2017, shall have at least one manager permitted under section
44-3-427
who works on the licensed premises. The liquor-licensed drugstore shall designate at least one permitted manager on the licensed premises to conduct the liquor-licensed drugstore's purchases of alcohol beverages from a licensed wholesaler. A licensed wholesaler shall take orders for alcohol beverages only from a permitted manager designated by the liquor-licensed drugstore.
(b)
A liquor-licensed drugstore that is involved in selling alcohol beverages must obtain and maintain a certification as a responsible alcohol beverage vendor in accordance with part 10 of this article 3.
(c)
An employee of a liquor-licensed drugstore who is under twenty-one years of age shall not deliver malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors offered for sale on, or sold and removed from, the licensed premises.
(7)
A person licensed under this section that obtains additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses in accordance with subsection (4)(b)(IV) or (4)(b)(V) of this section may operate under a single or consolidated corporate entity but shall not commingle purchases of or credit extensions for purchases of malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors from a wholesaler licensed under this article 3 for more than one licensed premises. A wholesaler licensed under this article 3 shall not base the price for the malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors it sells to a liquor-licensed drugstore licensed under this section on the total volume of malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors that the licensee purchases for multiple licensed premises.
Amended by 2024 Ch. 205,§ 14, eff. 8/7/2024.
Amended by 2020 Ch. 28, § 1, eff. 9/14/2020.
Renumbered from C.R.S. § 12-47-408 and amended by 2018 Ch. 152, § 2, eff. 10/1/2018.
Amended by 2018 Ch. 366, § 9, eff. 6/4/2018, except that amendments to subsections (2)(a)(II) and (III), (3) and (8).
Amended by 2016 Ch. 365, § 1, eff. 7/1/2016.
L. 2018: (1)(a)(I), IP(1)(b)(IV), (1)(b)(IV)(B), and IP(4)(b)(IV) amended and (4)(b)(V) and (4)(c) added, (SB 18-243), ch. 366, p. 2202, § 9, effective June 4; entire article added with relocations, (HB 18-1025), ch. 152, p. 1007, § 2, effective October 1; (2)(a)(II), (2)(a)(III), and (3) amended and (7) added, (SB 18-243), ch. 366, p. 2202, § 9, effective 1/1/2019.
(1) This section is similar to former § 12-47-408 as it existed prior to 2018.
(2) (a) Subsections (1)(a)(I), IP(1)(b)(IV), (1)(b)(IV)(B), IP(4)(b)(IV), (4)(b)(V), and (4)(c) of this section were numbered as § 12-47-408(1)(a)(I), IP(1)(b)(IV), (1)(b)(IV)(B), IP(4)(b)(IV), (4)(b)(V), and (4)(c), respectively, in SB 18-243. Those provisions were harmonized with and relocated to this section as this section appears in HB 18-1025.
(b) Subsections (2)(a)(II), (2)(a)(III), (3), and (7) of this section were numbered as § 12-47-408(2)(a)(II), (2)(a)(III), (3), and (8), respectively, in SB 18-243. Those provisions were harmonized with and relocated to this section as this section appears in HB 18-1025, effective January 1, 2019.
2024 Ch. 205, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).
This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.
For the legislative declaration in SB 18-243, see section 1 of chapter 366, Session Laws of Colorado 2018.