Authorizes holders of certain licenses issued by the state liquor authority to engage in the sale or wholesale of ready-to-drink cocktails, and corrects certain provisions regarding sale of mead and cider

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Robert Jackson

Authorizes specific SLA licensees to sell or wholesale ready-to-drink cocktails and clarifies mead/cider rules, modernizing the alcohol control framework.

PRINT NUMBER 6703B

Purpose and intent

S.6703 would expand and clarify which holders of State Liquor Authority (SLA) licenses may sell or wholesale ready‑to‑drink (RTD) cocktails, and it would correct and clarify statutory provisions governing the sale of mead and cider. The bill aims to modernize the Alcoholic Beverage Control law to reflect the growing RTD market and remove ambiguities affecting mead and cider sales.

Key provisions (as reflected in the title and available versions)

Authorizes specified SLA license holders to engage in the sale or wholesale distribution of ready‑to‑drink cocktails. The authorization is intended to allow certain licensed retailers, on‑premises vendors, and/or manufacturers/wholesalers (depending on licensing class) to sell packaged RTD cocktail products either at retail and/or wholesale.

Corrects and clarifies statutory language concerning sale of mead and cider — likely addressing classification, labeling, permitted points of sale, or which license types may sell these products (e.g., aligning mead and cider rules with beer/wine provisions or removing drafting/technical errors).

The bill has been amended in committee (versions A and B) — amendments may add technical fixes, clarify which specific license classes are affected, or refine wholesale/retail limits; the print numbers (6703A and 6703B) reflect those changes.

Note: The full text should be consulted for precise license classes covered, limits on packaging/ABV, on‑ vs off‑premises sale distinctions, wholesale rules, and any grandfathering/transition rules.

Who would be affected

SLA license holders (examples: restaurants, tavern/bars, retail licensees, manufacturers and wholesalers) — the bill would change which licensees can sell or wholesale RTD cocktails and potentially expand retail offerings.

Producers and distributors of RTD cocktail products — increased market access and wholesale channels.

Mead and cider producers/retailers — clarifications could ease compliance and expand permitted sales.

Consumers — broader availability of RTD cocktail products at more outlets.

State enforcement/regulatory authorities — SLA would implement and enforce any new or clarified provisions.

Procedural status and timeline

Introduced: March 20, 2025; referred to the Senate Investigations and Government Operations Committee.

Print versions: 6703A (printed May 9, 2025); 6703B (printed September 17, 2025).

Legislative actions: Amended and recommitted to Investigations and Government Operations on May 9 and again on September 17, 2025.

Sponsor: Senator Robert Jackson (primary).

Companion Assembly bill: A.6931.

Next steps

The bill remains in committee following amendment and recommitment (Print 6703B). It requires favorable committee report(s), passage by the full Senate, concurrence by the Assembly (or negotiation with companion A.6931), and the Governor’s approval to become law.

If you want, I can:
- Pull the enacted statutory language from the most recent print (6703B) and summarize the exact license classes and operative sections affected.
- Compare S.6703 to the companion Assembly bill A.6931 for differences.

Bill