STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1426

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 770

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 770, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTOXICATING LIQUOR,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize:

     (1)  Restaurants with a liquor license to sell beer, malt beverages, or cider in certain containers for off-premises consumption, under certain conditions;

     (2)  Retail dealers with a liquor license to sell beer, malt beverages, or cider in non-original packages and in certain containers, under certain conditions; and

     (3)  Brewpubs and small craft producer pubs with a liquor license to sell malt beverages manufactured on the premises or purchased from another liquor licensee in growlers for off-premises consumption.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Food Industry Association and Whole Foods Market.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Liquor Commission of the City and County of Honolulu.

     Your Committee finds that this measure permits the sale of growlers at all liquor retail establishments and restaurants and allows brewpubs and small craft producer pubs to sell different types of malt beverages in growlers.  Implementation of this measure will enable consumers to try an expanded selection of draft beer and will provide the opportunity for growth and expansion of the local craft beer industry.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 770, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

________________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair