Bill Text: NH SB79 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Enabling the use of self-pour automated systems by liquor commission licensees.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 9-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-28 - Hearing: 02/04/2025, Room 100, State House, 10:00 am; Senate Calendar 8 [SB79 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2025-SB79-Introduced.html
SB 79-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0928
08/05
SENATE BILL 79-FN
AN ACT enabling the use of self-pour automated systems by liquor commission licensees.
SPONSORS: Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. McGough, Dist 11; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Rep. Osborne, Rock. 2; Rep. Moffett, Merr. 4; Rep. Berry, Hills. 44
COMMITTEE: Commerce
-----------------------------------------------------------------
ANALYSIS
This bill defines and enables the use of self-pour automated systems by holders of on-premises licenses.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0928
08/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT enabling the use of self-pour automated systems by liquor commission licensees.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Self-Automated Pour Systems. Amend RSA 178 by inserting after section 22 the following new section:
178:22-a Self-Automated Pour Systems.
I. In this section:
(a) "Automated system" means a mechanized device capable of dispensing alcoholic beverages in a predetermined amount directly to an employee of the licensee or a patron when an RFID device activates the mechanized device.
(b) "Licensee" means a holder of an on-premise license under RSA 178:20, RSA 178:20-a, RSA 178:21, or RSA 178:22.
(c) "Quantity limit" means 32 ounces of beer, 32 ounces of cider not exceeding 6 percent alcohol by volume, or 10 ounces of wine.
(d) "Radio frequency identification device" or "RFID device" means a card, wristband, or other item that uses electromagnetic fields, ultra-high frequency radio waves, or other similar technology that automatically and uniquely identifies the user of the device.
II. Automated systems may be used by a licensee under the following conditions:
(a) A licensee may offer self-service of beer, cider not exceeding 6 percent alcohol by volume, or wine from an automated system on the premises of the licensee.
(b) No licensee shall allow an automated system to be used by patrons without first providing notification to the liquor commission of the licensee's intent to use an automated system.
(c) The sale of the alcoholic beverage through the automated system shall be deemed to occur between the licensee and the patron.
(d) Every licensee offering a patron self-service through an automated system shall maintain constant video monitoring of the automated system at all times during which the licensee is open to the public. The licensee shall keep recorded footage from the video monitoring for at least 60 days and shall provide the footage, upon request, to the department or any authorized law enforcement agent.
(e) A licensee shall offer to a patron who prepays for an RFID device a prorated refund if the patron dose not serve himself or herself the full allowable amount of beer, cider, or wine from the automated system.
III. Automated systems shall have the following requirements:
(a) The automated system shall only be accessible by an activated RFID device that an employee or patron receives from the licensee or the licensee's designee. Each time a patron activates or reactivates the RFID device, the automated system may dispense to the patron an amount up to the quantity limit. The full amount of the quantity limit need not be served at once. No more than the quantity limit shall be served per each activation of the RFID device.
(b) No beer, cider, or wine shall be sold, served, or dispensed from an automated system unless the brand name of the beer, cider or wine manufacturer's product corresponding to the container from the beverage is drawn is affixed or imprinted on a card, sign, plate, button, screen, or key of the dispensing spigot or nozzle. The automated system shall prohibit the intermixing of alcoholic beverages of different brands or labels while dispensing.
(c) The automated system shall not dispense from or utilize a container other than the original container as received from the manufacturer or wholesaler.
(d) No automated system shall allow beer, cider, or wine to flow through copper or lead tubing unless such tubing is isolated so that the alcoholic beverage does not come in direct contact with the copper or the lead.
(e) The automated system shall be located in the main portion of the barroom or permit premises in an area that is constantly monitored by the licensee and visible to the public.
IV. RFID devices shall have the following requirements:
(a) An RFID device shall be automatically deactivated and rendered unusable by a patron if it:
(1) No longer contains a volume credit or monetary credit; or
(2) Has been used to dispense the quantity limit.
(b) The automated system shall prohibit a patron from obtaining different types of alcoholic beverage during the same activation. For the purposes of this section the types of alcoholic beverage are beer, wine, and cider.
(c) The licensee shall maintain the ability to activate and deactivate all RFID devices at any time, and shall store the devices in a secure location that is not freely and readily accessible to patrons.
(d) Each RFID device shall only be used during the hours that the licensee is allowed to serve alcoholic beverages according to its license under this chapter. All RFID devices shall be deactivated upon the conclusion of legal service hours or when the premises closes, whichever occurs first.
V. In order to access the automated system:
(a) An employee or patron shall obtain or activate an RFID device from the licensee or the licensee's designee. A licensee or the licensee's designee shall not issue more than one active RFID device to an employee or patron at any given time and shall ensure that the employee and patron do not share the RFID device with another person.
(b) Before allowing a patron to use an RFID device, the licensee or the licensee's designee shall verify that the patron is 21 years of age or older based upon a government-issued identification card with a name that matches the patron's debit card, credit card, or mobile payment application. The licensee or the licensee's designee shall record such verification of the patron's age in a print or digital log that shall be kept upon the permit premises for a period of 3 years from the date of the last entry and shall be available at all times that the premises is open for inspection by the commission and any authorized law enforcement agent. Such log may be kept off the licensee's premises but only with the approval of the department.
(c) The licensee shall not allow an intoxicated patron to access the automated system.
(d) Any patron in possession of an inactive RFID device may, upon production of the patron's valid identification, have the RFID device reactivated a second time and subsequent times to allow another service of an amount up to the quantity limit. The licensee shall not reactivate the RFID device until the patron's first serving is substantially disposed of or consumed.
VI.(a) Beer, cider, or wine pipe lines, barrel tubes, coils and other appurtenances used for the dispensing of alcoholic beverages through an automated system shall be cleaned at least once a week by the use of a hydraulic pressure mechanism, hand pump suction, or a force clear, or other substantially similar system. After cleaning, the lines and tubes shall be rinsed with clear water until all chemicals, if nay have been used, have been removed. A print or digital record card shall be used to record the dates of cleaning. Such card shall be signed by the person who performs the cleaning and countersigned by the licensee. Such card shall be kept upon the permit premises for a period of one year from the date of the last entry and shall be available at all times that the premises is open for inspection by the department and any authorized law enforcement agent.
(b) At least once every 30 calendar days, a licensee shall calibrate the automated system to ensure that each ounce of liquid registered by the system is precisely one ounce of liquid poured. A print or digital record card shall be used to record the dates of calibration. Such card shall be signed by the person who performs the calibration and counter signed by the licensee. Such card shall be kept upon the licensee's premises for a period of one year from the date of the last entry and shall be available at all times that the premises is open for inspection by the commission and any authorized law enforcement agent.
VII. The commissioner shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A relative to maximum dollar sales and the maximum number of ounces that may be sold to a patron.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
25-0928
1/17/25
SB 79-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT enabling the use of self-pour automated systems by liquor commission licensees.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant is unable to complete a fiscal note for this bill as it is awaiting information from the Liquor Commission. The Commission was contacted on 1/10/25 for a fiscal note worksheet. When completed, the fiscal note will be forwarded to the Senate Clerk's Office.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Liquor Commission
