Bill would let cities license food retailers to sell malt liquor

Cities could license food retailers to sell limited malt liquor for off-premises use; counties could do so in certain areas. Food retailers are self-service stores that mainly sell groceries directly to customers, including supermarkets, grocery stores, corner stores, and convenience stores. A county may issue a license only for an unorganized or unincorporated area, and the commissioner must approve it. A business with an off-sale intoxicating liquor license would not need this license to sell limited malt liquor.

The text defines limited malt liquor by its alcohol content and bars its sale during specified overnight and morning hours. Limited malt liquor is malt liquor with at least 0.5 percent and no more than 15 percent alcohol by weight. The sale-hour limits apply to limited malt liquor. The sale limits apply Monday through Saturday from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. and Sunday from 2 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Local governments would set license fees, and limited malt liquor licenses would last one year or a shorter period to align expiration dates. These terms apply to off-sale limited malt liquor licenses issued by a city or county. A shorter license term requires a fee reduced in proportion to the term. A county must pay the town half the fee for a license covering a business located in that town. Each license would last one year, or less when used to align license expiration dates.