Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 67 - ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES (§§ 67-1-1 — 67-11-11) › Chapter 1 - ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (§§ 67-1-1 — 67-1-211) › Article 1 - LOCAL OPTION ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (§§ 67-1-1 — 67-1-101) › Section 67-1-51.1 - Delivery service permit; contract with holder of package retailer's permit, on-premises retailer's permit, or beer, light wine and light spirit product retail permit for intrastate delivery authorized; delivery without contract under certain circumstances; delivery requirements; application process; enforcement

(1)
The holder of a delivery service permit under Section
67-1-51
:
(a)
May contract with the holder of a package retailer's permit or an on-premises retailer's permit under Section
67-1-51
or the holder of a beer, light wine and light spirit product retail permit under Section
67-3-19
for the purpose of intrastate delivery of alcoholic beverages or beer, light wine and light spirit product, as authorized to be sold under the respective permits;
(b)
May deliver alcoholic beverages or beer, light wine and light spirit product without a delivery contract, if the permittee holds a package retailer's permit or an on-premises retailer's permit under Section
67-1-51
or a beer, light wine and light spirit product retail permit under Section
67-3-19
, respectively;
(c)
May use its own employees or independent contractors who are at least twenty-one (21) years of age to deliver such alcoholic beverages, beer, light wine or light spirit product under this section, provided all delivery agents are trained and certified consistent with the training program submitted to the division as required by subsection (2)(d) of this section. If independent contractors are used, the delivery service permittee must enter into a contract with the retailer as required by subsection (2)(c) of this section;
(d)
May facilitate orders by telephone, Internet or other electronic means for the sale and delivery of alcoholic beverages, beer, light wine or light spirit product under this section. The full amount of each order must be handled in a manner that gives the retail permittee control over the ultimate receipt of payment from the consumer. The retail permittee shall remain responsible for the proper remittance of all applicable taxes on the sale of the product;
(e)
May deliver only sealed containers of alcoholic beverages, beer, light wine or light spirit product to an individual in Mississippi;
(f)
Shall obtain from the customer a confirmation that he or she is at least twenty-one (21) years of age at the time the order is placed;
(g)
Shall place a stamp, print or label on the outside of the sealed package to indicate that the sealed package contains alcoholic beverages, beer, light wine or light spirit product;
(h)
Shall require the recipient, at the time of delivery, to provide valid photo identification verifying he or she is at least twenty-one (21) years of age and to sign for the delivery;
(i)
Shall possess identification scanning software technology or a state-of-the-art alternative at the point of delivery to verify the recipient is at least twenty-one (21) years of age and to collect the recipient's name and date of birth. Records relating to this verification shall be maintained for at least ninety (90) days and shall be subject to review by the division;
(j)
Shall return all alcoholic beverages, beer, light wine or light spirit product to the retailer if the recipient is under the age of twenty-one (21) years, appears intoxicated, fails to provide proof of identification, fails or refuses to sign for delivery, fails to complete the identification verification process or declines to accept delivery, or if any circumstances in the delivery environment indicate illegal conduct, overconsumption of alcohol, or an otherwise unsafe environment for the consumption of alcohol;
(k)
May not deliver any alcoholic beverage, beer, light wine or light spirit product to any person located within a jurisdiction that is dry for that product, as provided by the division's wet-dry map;
(l)
May not deliver any alcoholic beverage, beer, light wine or light spirit product in a jurisdiction during times prohibited for lawful sale in that jurisdiction;
(m)
May not deliver any alcoholic beverage, beer, light wine or light spirit product more than thirty (30) miles from the retailer's licensed premises;
(n)
Shall permit the division to perform an audit of the licensee's records upon request and with sufficient notification; and
(o)
Shall be deemed to have consented to the jurisdiction of the division or any law enforcement agency and the Mississippi courts concerning enforcement of this section and any related laws or rules.
(2)
In order to receive a delivery service permit, an applicant shall:
(a)
File an application with the division;
(b)
Pay the privilege license tax of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) as provided in Section
27-71-5
;
(c)
Provide to the division a sample contract that the applicant intends to enter into with a retailer for the delivery of alcoholic beverages, beer, light wine or light spirit product, unless the applicant is the retailer;
(d)
Submit to the division an outline of an internal or external training and certification program for delivery service personnel that addresses topics such as identifying underage persons, intoxicated persons, and fake or altered identification;
(e)
Provide an attestation that the applicant is at least twenty-one (21) years of age and has not been convicted of a felony in any state or federal courts;
(f)
Shall provide proof of a general liability insurance policy in an amount not less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) per occurrence; and
(g)
Shall be properly registered to conduct business in Mississippi.
(3)
Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a technology services company to obtain a delivery service permit if the company does not employ or contract with delivery agents but merely provides software or a digital network application that connects consumers and licensed retailers for the delivery of alcoholic beverages from the licensed retailer. However, the act of connecting consumers to licensed retailers shall serve to grant jurisdiction to the State of Mississippi.
(4)
The division may enforce the requirements of this section by the same administrative proceedings that apply to other alcoholic beverage licenses or permits, including, without limitation, any disciplinary action applicable to the package retailer's permittee, on-premises retailer's permittee, retail permittee for beer, light wine or light spirit product, or delivery service permittee resulting from any unlawful sale to a minor.
(5)
The division may enforce the requirements of this section against the package retailer's permittee, on-premises retailer's permittee, retail permittee for beer, light wine or light spirit product, or delivery service permittee, and any employee or independent contractor of such permittee. If a package retailer permittee, an on-premises retailer's permittee, or a retail permittee for beer, light wine or light spirit product is also a delivery permittee, a violation of alcohol law by its employee or independent contractor during delivery will subject both the retailer permit and the delivery service permit to disciplinary action for the violation. Delivery to a minor shall be treated as furnishing to a minor and shall result in any applicable disciplinary action.
(6)
Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or otherwise diminish the ability of the division to enforce the provisions of Chapters 1 and 3, Title 67, Mississippi Code of 1972, with respect to the liability of any package retailer's permittee, on-premises retailer's permittee, retail permittee for beer, light wine or light spirit product, or delivery service permittee engaging in delivery activity authorized by this section.
(7)
Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the direct shipment of alcoholic beverages, light wine, beer or light spirit product from any manufacturer or distributor holding a permit under this article, or under Title 67, Chapter 3, Mississippi Code of 1972, to consumers in this state.
Added by Laws, 2021, ch. 442, HB 1135,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2021.