The state
Senate passed two bills amending the Michigan Liquor Control Act to allow wine
tastings at farmers markets and the refilling and selling of growlers
(resealable container).
Senate
Bills 79 and 279
would allow a qualified small vintner to conduct wine tastings and to sell wine
at a farmer’s market. The Liquor Control Commission would issue an annual
farmer’s market permit to wine makers that do not manufacture more
than 5,000 gallons of wine annually.
Only one farmer’s
market permit would be issued in a county where the qualified wine
maker is located and no winery could hold more than five permits at one time.
Additionally,
Senate
Bill 27 was advanced. Under the provisions of this legislation, eligible
merchants would be permitted to sell and refill any growler filled with beer
for off-premises consumption, as long as the liquid capacity is one gallon or
less. After passage by the state Senate,
both bills were referred to the House Committee on Regulatory Reform.