COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

Senate Bill No. 450

(By Senators Walters, Blair, Carmichael, McCabe, Palumbo and Wells)

____________

[Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary;

reported February 5, 2014.]

____________

A BILL to amend and reenact §60-1-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the sale and consumption of alcoholic liquors in outdoor dining areas adjoining an ABCA-licensed facility.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That §60-1-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:

ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

§60-1-5. Definitions.

    For the purposes of this chapter:

    "Alcohol" shall mean ethyl alcohol whatever its origin and shall include synthetic ethyl alcohol but not denatured alcohol.

    "Beer" shall mean any beverage obtained by the fermentation of barley, malt, hops or any other similar product or substitute, and containing more alcohol than that of nonintoxicating beer.

    "Nonintoxicating beer" shall mean any beverage, obtained by the fermentation of barley, malt, hops or similar products or substitute, and containing not more alcohol than that specified by section two, article sixteen, chapter eleven of this code.

    "Wine" shall mean any alcoholic beverage obtained by the fermentation of the natural content of fruits, or other agricultural products, containing sugar.

    "Spirits" shall mean any alcoholic beverage obtained by distillation and mixed with potable water and other substances in solution, and includes brandy, rum, whiskey, cordials and gin.

    "Alcoholic liquor" shall include alcohol, beer, wine and spirits, and any liquid or solid capable of being used as a beverage, but shall not include nonintoxicating beer.

    "Original package" shall mean any closed or sealed container or receptacle used for holding alcoholic liquor.

    "Sale" shall mean any transfer, exchange or barter in any manner or by any means, for a consideration, and shall include all sales made by principal, proprietor, agent or employee.

    "Selling" shall include solicitation or receipt of orders; possession for sale; and possession with intent to sell.

    "Person" shall mean an individual, firm, partnership, limited partnership, corporation or voluntary association.

    "Manufacture" means to distill, rectify, ferment, brew, make, mix, concoct, process, blend, bottle or fill an original package with any alcoholic liquor.

    "Manufacturer" shall mean any person engaged in the manufacture of any alcoholic liquor, and among others includes a distiller, a rectifier, a wine maker and a brewer.

    "Brewery" shall mean an establishment where beer is manufactured or in any way prepared.

    "Winery" shall mean an establishment where wine is manufactured or in any way prepared.

    "Distillery" shall mean an establishment where alcoholic liquor other than wine or beer is manufactured or in any way prepared.

    "Public place" shall mean any place, building or conveyance to which the public has, or is permitted to have access, including restaurants, soda fountains, hotel dining rooms, lobbies and corridors of hotels and any highway, street, lane, park or place of public resort or amusement: Provided, That the term "public place" shall not mean or include any of the above-named places or any portion or portions thereof which qualify and are licensed under the provisions of this chapter to sell alcoholic liquors for consumption on the premises: Provided, however, That the term “public place” shall not mean or include any legally demarcated area designated solely for the consumption of beverages and freshly prepared food that directly connects and adjoins any portion or portions of a premises that qualifies and is licensed under the provisions of this chapter to sell alcoholic liquors for consumption thereupon.

    "State liquor store" shall mean a store established and operated by the commission under this chapter for the sale of alcoholic liquor in the original package for consumption off the premises.

    "An agency" shall mean a drugstore, grocery store or general store designated by the commission as a retail distributor of alcoholic liquor for the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Commissioner.

    "Department" shall mean the organization through which the commission exercises powers imposed upon it by this chapter.

    "Commissioner" or "commission" shall mean the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Commissioner.

    "Intoxicated" shall mean having one's faculties impaired by alcohol or other drugs to the point where physical or mental control or both are markedly diminished.

_______________

    (NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to define “public place” to clarify that facilities duly licensed to sell alcoholic liquors on the premises may do so in demarcated outdoor dining areas adjoining the ABCA-licensed facility.

    Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.)