STAND. COM. REP. NO. 967

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 Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 770, H.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, Maui Brewing Co., Hawaiian Craft Brewers Guild, 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.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2015.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 770, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 770, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair