2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 30 - Intoxicating Liquors › Chapter 545 - Liquor Control Act › Section 30-37t. - Festival permit.

(a) For the purposes of this section:
(1) “Eligible manufacturer” means the holder of a manufacturer permit for (A) spirits issued under subsection (a) of section 30-16, (B) beer issued under subsection (b) of section 30-16, (C) a farm winery issued under subsection (c) of section 30-16, or (D) wine, cider and mead issued under subsection (d) of section 30-16; and
(2) “Festival sponsor” means an entity operating on a nonprofit basis in this state, including, but not limited to, (A) an association, or a subsidiary of an association, that promotes manufacturing and selling alcoholic liquor in this state, (B) a civic organization operating in this state, and (C) a municipality in this state.
(b) A festival permit shall allow a festival sponsor to organize and sponsor a festival in this state in accordance with the provisions of this section by inviting eligible manufacturers to participate in such festival. Each festival permit issued by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection under this section shall be effective for not more than four consecutive days, and shall allow the festival sponsor to hold the festival on the days and times permitted under subsection (j) of section 30-91. The fee for each festival permit shall be seventy-five dollars.
(c) The commissioner shall not issue a festival permit under this section unless the festival sponsor has received all approvals required under local fire and zoning regulations.
(d) The festival sponsor shall disclose to each person who purchases admission to the festival, at the time such person purchases such admission, any and all restrictions or limitations of such admission, including, but not limited to, the maximum number of glasses or other receptacles suitable to permit the consumption of alcoholic liquor such person is entitled to receive by virtue of purchasing such admission.
(e) Any municipality may, by ordinance or zoning regulation, prohibit festivals in such municipality.
(f) Any eligible manufacturer may participate in a festival organized and sponsored by a festival sponsor that invites such eligible manufacturer to participate in such festival.
(g) Each participating eligible manufacturer may, during the festival and for the alcoholic liquor such participating eligible manufacturer has manufactured:
(1) Offer to festival visitors free or paid samples or tastings of alcoholic liquor for consumption on the festival premises, in accordance with the provisions of section 30-16; and
(2) Unless such participating eligible manufacturer is the holder of an out-of-state shipper's permit for beer issued under section 30-19:
(A) Sell and directly ship to festival visitors, if allowed under section 30-16, alcoholic liquor that such participating eligible manufacturer sells to festival visitors at such festival;
(B) Sell, at retail, for consumption off the festival premises and in accordance with the provisions of section 30-16, bottles and other sealed containers of alcoholic liquor; and
(C) Sell, at retail, alcoholic liquor by the glass or receptacle for consumption on the festival premises, provided each such glass or receptacle is embossed or otherwise permanently labeled with the name and date of the festival.
(h) No participating eligible manufacturer may give, offer or sell to any person or entity any alcoholic liquor that such participating eligible manufacturer has not manufactured.
(i) A municipality may, by ordinance or zoning regulation, require festival sponsors to ensure that:
(1) Restrooms, or enclosed portable toilets, are available either on or near the festival premises; and
(2) Food is available to festival visitors for consumption on the festival premises during all operating hours, provided no such ordinance or zoning regulation shall require that food be purchased with an alcoholic beverage.
(j) Festival sponsors shall be exempt from the requirements to affix and maintain a placard, as provided in subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 30-39. The provisions of subsection (c) of section 30-39 shall not apply to festival permits.
(P.A. 22-56, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 22-56 effective May 23, 2022.