2019 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 30 - Intoxicating Liquors
Chapter 545 - Liquor Control Act
Section 30-16 - Manufacturer permit.

(a) A manufacturer permit shall allow the manufacture of alcoholic liquor and the storage, bottling and wholesale distribution and sale of alcoholic liquor manufactured or bottled to permittees in this state and without the state as may be permitted by law; but no such permit shall be granted unless the place or the plan of the place of manufacture has received the approval of the Department of Consumer Protection. The holder of a manufacturer permit who produces less than twenty-five thousand gallons of alcoholic liquor in a calendar year may sell at retail from the premises sealed bottles or other sealed containers of alcoholic liquor manufactured on the premises for consumption off the premises, provided such holder shall not sell to any one consumer more than one and one-half liters of alcoholic liquor per day nor more than five gallons of alcoholic liquor in any two-month period. Retail sales by a holder of a manufacturer permit shall occur only on the days and times permitted under subsection (d) of section 30-91. A holder of a manufacturer permit, alone or in combination with any parent or subsidiary business or related or affiliated party, who sells more than ten thousand gallons of alcoholic liquor in any calendar year may not sell alcoholic liquor at wholesale to retail permittees within this state. Such permit shall also authorize the offering and tasting, on the premises of the permittee, of free samples of spirits distilled on the premises. Tastings shall not exceed two ounces per patron per day and shall not be allowed on such premises on Sunday before eleven o’clock a.m. and after eight o’clock p.m. and on any other day before ten o’clock a.m. and after eight o’clock p.m. No tastings shall be offered to or allowed to be consumed by any minor or intoxicated person. A holder of a manufacturer permit may apply for and shall receive an out-of-state shipper’s permit for manufacturing plants and warehouse locations outside the state owned by such manufacturer or a subsidiary corporation thereof, at least eighty-five per cent of the voting stock of which is owned by such manufacturer, to bring into any of its plants or warehouses in the state alcoholic liquors for reprocessing, repackaging, reshipment or sale either (1) within the state to wholesaler permittees not owned or controlled by such manufacturer, or (2) outside the state. The annual fee for a manufacturer permit shall be one thousand eight hundred fifty dollars.

(b) A manufacturer permit for beer shall be in all respects the same as a manufacturer permit, except that the scope of operations of the holder shall be limited to beer, but shall permit the storage of beer in any part of the state. Such permit shall also authorize the offering and tasting, on the premises of the permittee, of free samples of beer brewed on such premises and the selling at retail from the premises of sealed bottles or other sealed containers of such beer for consumption off the premises. The offering and tasting may be limited to visitors who have attended a tour of the premises of the permittee. Such selling at retail from the premises of sealed bottles or other sealed containers shall comply with the provisions of subsection (d) of section 30-91 and shall permit not more than nine liters of beer to be sold to any person on any day on which such sale is authorized under the provisions of subsection (d) of section 30-91. The annual fee for a manufacturer permit for beer shall be one thousand dollars.

(c) A manufacturer permit for cider not exceeding six per cent alcohol by volume and apple wine not exceeding fifteen per cent alcohol by volume shall allow (1) the manufacture, storage, bottling and wholesale distribution and sale at retail of such cider and apple wine to permittees and nonpermittees in this state as may be permitted by law; but no such permit shall be issued unless the place or the plan of the place of manufacture has received the approval of the department; (2) the sale and shipment by the holder of such permit of such cider and such apple wine to persons outside the state and to consumers in this state in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as such sale and shipment is permitted for wine by a farm winery manufacturer permittee pursuant to subsection (e) of this section; and (3) the offering and tasting, on the premises of the permittee, of free samples of cider and apple wine manufactured on such premises. Tastings shall not exceed two ounces per patron and shall not be allowed on such premises on Sunday before eleven o’clock a.m. and after eight o’clock p.m. and on any other day before ten o’clock a.m. and after eight o’clock p.m. No tasting shall be offered to or allowed to be consumed by any minor or intoxicated person. Offerings and tastings may be limited to visitors who have attended a tour of the premises of the permittee. The annual fee for a manufacturer permit for cider shall be two hundred dollars.

(d) A manufacturer permit for apple brandy and eau-de-vie shall be in all respects the same as a manufacturer permit, except that the scope of operations of the holder shall be limited to apple brandy or eau-de-vie, or both. The annual fee for a manufacturer permit for apple brandy and eau-de-vie shall be four hundred dollars.

(e) (1) A manufacturer permit for a farm winery shall be in all respects the same as a manufacturer permit, except that the scope of operations of the holder shall be limited to wine and brandies distilled from grape products or other fruit products, including grappa and eau-de-vie. As used in this section, “farm winery” means any place or premises that is located on a farm in the state in which wine is manufactured and sold.

(2) Such permit shall, at the single principal premises of the farm winery, authorize (A) the sale in bulk by the holder thereof from the premises where the products are manufactured pursuant to such permit; (B) as to a manufacturer who produces one hundred thousand gallons of wine or less per year, the sale and shipment by the holder thereof to a retailer of wine manufactured by the farm winery permittee in the original sealed containers of not more than fifteen gallons per container; (C) the sale and shipment by the holder thereof of wine manufactured by the farm winery permittee to persons outside the state; (D) the offering and tasting of free samples of such wine or brandy, dispensed out of bottles or containers having capacities of not more than two gallons per bottle or container, to visitors and prospective retail customers for consumption on the premises of the farm winery permittee; (E) the sale at retail from the premises of sealed bottles or other sealed containers of such wine or brandy for consumption off the premises; (F) the sale at retail from the premises of wine or brandy by the glass and bottle to visitors on the premises of the farm winery permittee for consumption on the premises; and (G) subject to the provisions of subdivision (3) of this subsection, the sale and delivery or shipment of wine manufactured by the permittee directly to a consumer in this state. Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraphs (D), (E) and (F) of this subdivision, a town may, by ordinance or zoning regulation, prohibit any such offering, tasting or selling at retail at premises within such town for which a manufacturer permit for a farm winery has been issued.

(3) A permittee, when selling and shipping wine directly to a consumer in this state, shall: (A) Ensure that the shipping labels on all containers of wine shipped directly to a consumer in this state conspicuously state the following: “CONTAINS ALCOHOL—SIGNATURE OF A PERSON AGE 21 OR OLDER REQUIRED FOR DELIVERY”; (B) obtain the signature of a person age twenty-one or older at the address prior to delivery, after requiring the signer to demonstrate that he or she is age twenty-one or older by providing a valid motor vehicle operator’s license or a valid identity card described in section 1-1h; (C) not ship more than five gallons of wine in any two-month period to any person in this state; (D) pay, to the Department of Revenue Services, all sales taxes and alcoholic beverage taxes due under chapters 219 and 220 on sales of wine to consumers in this state, and file, with said department, all sales tax returns and alcoholic beverage tax returns relating to such sales; (E) report to the Department of Consumer Protection a separate and complete record of all sales and shipments to consumers in the state, on a ledger sheet or similar form which readily presents a chronological account of such permittee’s dealings with each such consumer; (F) not ship to any address in the state where the sale of alcoholic liquor is prohibited by local option pursuant to section 30-9; and (G) hold an in-state transporter’s permit pursuant to section 30-19f or make any such shipment through the use of a person who holds such an in-state transporter’s permit.

(4) No licensed farm winery may sell any such wine or brandy not manufactured by such winery, except a licensed farm winery may sell from the premises (A) wine manufactured by another farm winery located in this state, and (B) brandy manufactured from fruit harvested in this state and distilled off the premises in this state.

(5) The farm winery permittee shall grow on the premises of the farm winery or on property under the same ownership and control of said permittee or leased by the backer of a farm winery permit or by said permittee within the farm winery’s principal state an average crop of fruit equal to not less than twenty-five per cent of the fruit used in the manufacture of the farm winery permittee’s wine. An average crop shall be defined each year as the average yield of the farm winery permittee’s two largest annual crops out of the preceding five years, except that during the first seven years from the date of issuance of a farm winery permit, an average crop shall be defined as three tons of grapes for each acre of vineyard farmed by the farm winery permittee. Such seven-year period shall not begin anew if the property for which the farm winery permit is held is transferred or sold during such seven-year period. In the event the farm winery consists of more than one property, the aggregate acreage of the farm winery shall not be less than five acres.

(6) A holder of a manufacturer permit for a farm winery, when advertising or offering wine for direct shipment to a consumer in this state via the Internet or any other on-line computer network, shall clearly and conspicuously state such liquor permit number in its advertising.

(7) A holder of a manufacturer permit for a farm winery may sell and offer free tastings of wine manufactured from such winery at a farmers’ market, as defined in section 22-6r, that is operated as a nonprofit enterprise or association, provided such farmers’ market invites such holder to sell wine at such farmers’ market and such holder has a farmers’ market wine sales permit issued by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of section 30-37o.

(8) The annual fee for a manufacturer permit for a farm winery shall be three hundred dollars.

(f) (1) A manufacturer permit for a farm brewery shall be in all respects the same as a manufacturer permit, except that the scope of operations of the holder shall be limited to the production of not more than seventy-five thousand gallons of beer in a calendar year. As used in this section, “farm brewery” means any place or premises that is located on a farm in the state in which beer is manufactured and sold.

(2) Such permit shall, at the single principal premises of the farm brewery, authorize (A) the sale of sealed bottles or other sealed containers of beer brewed on such premises to the holder of a wholesaler permit issued pursuant to section 30-17; (B) the offering and tasting of free samples of beer manufactured by the farm brewery permittee, dispensed out of bottles or other sealed containers to visitors and prospective retail customers for consumption on the premises of the farm brewery permittee; (C) the sale at retail from the premises of not more than nine liters of such beer to any person per day, in sealed bottles or other sealed containers, for consumption off the premises; and (D) the sale at retail from the premises of beer by the glass and bottle to visitors on the premises of the farm brewery permittee for consumption on the premises. Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, of this subdivision, a town may, by ordinance or zoning regulation, prohibit any such offering, tasting or selling at retail at premises within such town for which a manufacturer permit for a farm brewery has been issued.

(3) The farm brewery permittee shall use not less than twenty-five per cent of a combination of hops, barley, cereal grains, honey, flowers or other fermentables grown or malted within the state of Connecticut in the manufacture of the farm brewery permittee’s beer for the first year of issuance for any such permit and not less than fifty per cent of such hops, barley, cereal grains, honey, flowers or other fermentables in the manufacture of the farm brewery permittee’s beer for the second and any subsequent year of issuance for any such permit. Any such beer may be advertised and sold by the farm brewery permittee as “Connecticut Craft Beer”.

(4) A holder of a manufacturer permit for a farm brewery may sell beer manufactured from such brewery at a farmers’ market, as defined in section 22-6r, that is operated as a nonprofit enterprise or association, provided such farmers’ market invites such holder to sell beer at such farmers’ market and such holder has a farmers’ market beer sales permit issued by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of section 30-37r.

(5) The annual fee for a manufacturer permit for a farm brewery shall be three hundred dollars.

(g) A manufacturer permit for a brew pub shall allow: (1) The manufacture, storage and bottling of beer, (2) the retail sale of alcoholic liquor to be consumed on the premises with or without the sale of food, (3) the selling at retail from the premises of sealed bottles or other sealed containers of beer brewed on such premises for consumption off the premises, and (4) the sale of sealed bottles or other sealed containers of beer brewed on such premises to the holder of a wholesaler permit issued pursuant to subsection (b) of section 30-17, provided that the holder of a manufacturer permit for a brew pub produces at least five thousand gallons of beer on the premises annually. Such selling at retail from the premises of sealed bottles or other sealed containers shall comply with the provisions of subsection (d) of section 30-91 and shall permit not more than nine liters of beer to be sold to any person on any day on which such sale is authorized under the provisions of subsection (d) of section 30-91. The annual fee for a manufacturer permit for a brew pub shall be three hundred dollars.

(h) A manufacturer permit for beer and brew pub shall be in all respects the same as a manufacturer permit for beer, as defined in subsection (b) of this section, and shall allow those additional permissible uses specified in the manufacturer permit for a brew pub, as defined in subsection (g) of this section, provided the holder of a manufacturer permit for beer and brew pub produces at least five thousand gallons of beer on the premises annually. The annual fee for a manufacturer permit for beer and brew pub shall be one thousand five hundred dollars.

(i) (1) A manufacturer permit for a farm distillery shall be in all respects the same as a manufacturer permit, except that the scope of operations of the holder shall be limited to the production of not more than ten thousand gallons per calendar year of distilled alcohol or spirits including, but not limited to, whiskey, gin, vodka and rum. As used in this section, “farm distillery” means any place or premises that is located on a farm in the state in which distilled spirits or alcohol are manufactured and sold.

(2) Such permit shall, at the single principal premises of the farm distillery, authorize (A) the sale in bulk by the holder thereof from the premises where the products are manufactured pursuant to such permit; (B) the sale and shipment by the holder thereof to a retailer of distilled alcohol or spirits manufactured by the farm distillery permittee in the original sealed containers of not more than fifteen gallons per container; (C) the offering and tasting of free samples of such distilled alcohol or spirits, in amounts not to exceed two ounces per day per person, to visitors and prospective retail customers for consumption on the premises of the farm distillery permittee; and (D) the sale at retail from the premises of sealed bottles or other sealed containers, in amounts not to exceed four and one-half liters per customer per day, of such distilled alcohol or spirits for consumption off the premises. Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraphs (C) and (D) of this subdivision, a town may, by ordinance or zoning regulation, prohibit any such offering, tasting or selling at retail at premises within such town for which a manufacturer permit for a farm distillery has been issued.

(3) No licensed farm distillery may sell any such distilled alcohol or spirits not manufactured by such distillery.

(4) The farm distillery permittee shall grow on the premises of the farm distillery or on property under the same ownership and control of said permittee or leased by the backer of a farm distillery permit or by said permittee within the farm distillery’s principal state an average crop of fruit or crops equal to not less than twenty-five per cent of the fruit or crops used in the manufacture of the farm distillery permittee’s distilled alcohol or spirits. An average crop shall be defined each year as the average yield of the farm distillery permittee’s two largest annual crops out of the preceding five years. In the event the farm distillery consists of more than one property, the aggregate acreage of the farm distillery shall not be less than five acres.

(5) The annual fee for a manufacturer permit for a farm distillery shall be three hundred dollars.

(1949 Rev., S. 4238; February, 1965, P.A. 180; 1967, P.A. 327, S. 1; P.A. 77-614, S. 165, 587, 610; P.A. 78-294, S. 3, 5; 78-303, S. 80, 85, 136; P.A. 80-482, S. 4, 170, 191, 345, 348; P.A. 87-141, S. 1, 2; P.A. 88-97; P.A. 89-181, S. 3, 6; P.A. 90-72, S. 3; P.A. 91-353, S. 1, 7; P.A. 93-139, S. 10; 93-266; P.A. 95-161, S. 1, 3; 95-195, S. 20, 83; P.A. 96-220, S. 1–3, 7; P.A. 98-236, S. 5, 6; P.A. 02-25, S. 1; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(d); P.A. 04-111, S. 1; 04-169, S. 17; 04-189, S. 1; P.A. 05-7, S. 1; 05-274, S. 1; P.A. 06-67, S. 1; P.A. 07-39, S. 1; 07-145, S. 1; 07-165, S. 2; P.A. 08-187, S. 1; P.A. 09-47, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 327; P.A. 11-164, S. 1; P.A. 12-17, S. 1–3; P.A. 13-30, S. 1; 13-101, S. 1; P.A. 15-24, S. 4–6, 8; P.A. 16-103, S. 4; P.A. 17-160, S. 1; 17-232, S. 1.)

History: 1965 act added provisions in Subdiv. (1) re application by holder of manufacturer’s permit for out-of-state shipper’s permit; 1967 act specified that such out-of-state shipper’s permit is “to bring into any of its plants or warehouses in the state alcoholic liquors for reprocessing, repackaging, reshipment or sale ” rather than “for the sale of alcoholic liquors to wholesaler permittees in this state not owned or controlled by said manufacturer”; P.A. 77-614 replaced liquor control commission with division of liquor control within the department of business regulation, except as later specified in P.A. 78-303, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-294 added Subdiv. (5) re manufacturer’s permits for farm wineries; P.A. 80-482 made division of liquor control an independent department and abolished the department of business regulation, overriding provision of same act which would have placed the division within the public safety department; P.A. 87-141 amended Subdiv. (5) by clarifying that a manufacturer permit does not authorize the offering and tasting of free samples of wine to visitors and prospective retail customers in towns which by ordinance prohibit such conduct, and eliminated the limitation on the number of finished gallons of wine a manufacturer may produce annually; P.A. 88-97 amended Subsec. (5) to provide that farm winery permits may be limited by local ordinance with respect to wine tastings and retail sales; P.A. 89-181 added Subsec. (6) concerning manufacturer permit for a brew pub; P.A. 90-72 allowed holders of a permit to sell alcoholic liquor in addition to beer; P.A. 91-353 amended Subdiv. (6) to require that the holder of a manufacturer permit for a brew pub must produce at least 5,000 gallons of beer on the premises annually; P.A. 93-139 added the annual fee for each manufacturer permit, defined “farm winery” in Subsec. (e) and made technical changes; P.A. 93-266 amended Subdiv. (5) expanding a manufacturer permit for a farm winery to allow the production of brandies from grape and other fruit products in addition to the production of wine; P.A. 95-161 amended Subsec. (b) to authorize the offering of beer to and tasting of beer by tour attendees and amended Subsec. (f) to authorize the retail sale of beer produced on the premises for off-premise consumption; P.A. 95-195 amended Subsec. (a) to substitute Department of Consumer Protection for Department of Liquor Control, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-220 amended Subsec. (c) to permit the sale of apple wine not exceeding 15% alcohol by volume, amended Subsec. (e) to permit the selling at retail of wine by the glass and bottle for on-premise consumption and amended Subsec. (f) to delete the sunset on the retail sale of beer for off-premise consumption, effective June 4, 1996; P.A. 98-236 amended Subsec. (d) by adding provisions re eau-de-vie, effective June 8, 1998; P.A. 02-25 amended Subsec. (e) to allow farm winery to sell wine manufactured by another farm winery located in this state; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 and P.A. 04-169 replaced Department of Consumer Protection with Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-111 amended Subsec. (e) by decreasing the percentage of the average crop of fruit required to be produced within the state, for use in the manufacture of a farm winery permittee’s wine, from 51% to 25%; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004; P.A. 05-7 made a technical change in Subsec. (a) and amended Subsecs. (b) and (f) to include authorization to sell bottles or sealed containers at retail for off-premises consumption, effective April 19, 2005; P.A. 05-274 amended Subsec. (e) to establish Subdivs. (1) to (7) and authorize the sale and shipment of wine manufactured by the farm winery permittee to a retailer when a farm winery permittee produces 100,000 gallons of wine or less per year, the sale at retail from the premises of wine or brandy by the glass and bottle to visitors on the premises of the farm winery permittee and the sale and delivery or shipment of wine manufactured by the permittee directly to a consumer in this state, effective July 13, 2005; P.A. 06-67 amended Subsec. (e)(5) to add provision re production of fruit on premises of farm winery or on property adjacent to and under same ownership and control of permittee, effective May 19, 2006; P.A. 07-39 changed 60-day period to 2-month period in Subsec. (e)(3)(C); P.A. 07-145 and 07-165 both amended Subsec. (f) by designating existing items allowed under manufacturer permit for a brew pub as Subdivs. (1), (2) and (3) and adding Subdiv. (4) allowing sale of sealed bottles or containers of beer brewed on premises to wholesaler permittee, effective June 25, 2007; P.A. 08-187 amended Subsec. (e) to add “at the single principal premises of the farm winery” in Subdiv. (2) and, in Subdiv. (5), to change “produce” to “grow”, to delete “adjacent to”, to add “or leased by the backer of a farm winery permit”, to authorize growing of fruit crop “within the farm winery’s principal state” and to require that if farm winery consists of more than one property, aggregate acreage of the winery be not less than 5 acres, effective June 12, 2008; P.A. 09-47 amended Subsec. (c) by designating existing provisions re activities allowed by permit as Subdiv. (1) and adding Subdiv. (2) to allow sale and shipment of cider and apple wine in same manner and subject to same conditions as permitted for wine by a farm winery manufacturer permittee, effective May 20, 2009; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 increased fees; P.A. 11-164 amended Subsec. (e) by adding new Subdiv. (7) re sale of wine at farmers’ markets and redesignating existing Subdiv. (7) as Subdiv. (8), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 12-17 amended Subsec. (b) by changing “shall” to “may” re limiting offering and tasting of free samples of beer to visitors who have attended a tour of premises and increasing amount of beer permitted to be sold to any person on any day from 8 liters to 9 liters, amended Subsec. (f) by increasing amount of beer permitted to be sold to any person on any day from 8 liters to 9 liters and added Subsec. (g) re manufacturer permit for beer and brew pub, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 13-30 amended Subsec. (e)(5) by adding provision re 7-year period not to begin anew if property for which permit held is transferred or sold during that period, effective May 24, 2013; P.A. 13-101 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision re offering and tasting of free samples of spirits distilled on premises, subject to certain conditions, effective June 6, 2013; P.A. 15-24 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provisions re holder of manufacturer permit who produces less than 25,000 gallons of alcoholic liquor in a calendar year to sell at retail from premises sealed bottles or containers of alcoholic liquor manufactured on premises for consumption off premises, changed tasting amount from one-half ounce to two ounces per day and deleted provision re holder of manufacturer permit to apply for and receive wholesaler permit, amended Subsec. (c) by adding Subdiv. (3) re offering and tasting, on premises of permittee, of free samples of cider and apple wine manufactured on such premises, and amended Subsec. (e)(4) by designating provision re wine manufactured by another farm winery as Subpara. (A) and adding Subpara. (B) re brandy manufactured from fruit harvested in this state and distilled off the premises in this state, effective June 4, 2015, and further amended Subsec. (e) by making a technical change in Subdiv. (1) and adding “dispensed out of bottles or containers having capacities of not more than two gallons per bottle or container,” in Subdiv. (2)(D), effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 16-103 amended Subsec. (e)(7) by adding “and offer free tastings of”, effective June 2, 2016; P.A. 17-160 added new Subsec. (f) re manufacturer permit for farm brewery, redesignated existing Subsecs. (f) and (g) as Subsecs. (g) and (h), and made a conforming change, effective July 7, 2017; P.A. 17-232 added Subsec. (h), codified by the Revisors as Subsec. (i), re manufacturer permit for farm distillery.