Proposal would separate nonalcoholic beer from beer and regulate sales

The proposal would define beer as excluding nonalcoholic beer and would define near beer as beer containing less than one-half of one percent alcohol by volume. These definitions apply to beverages covered by the Nebraska Liquor Control Act.

The proposal would bar anyone from selling or furnishing nonalcoholic beer to a minor and would apply nearly all liquor-control rules to near beer. The rules would cover the manufacture, distribution, sale, and purchase of near beer, while the minor-sale restriction covers nonalcoholic beer. Near beer would follow all Nebraska Liquor Control Act provisions except its taxation provisions. Near beer would instead follow the same taxation provisions that apply to beer.