Liquor department urges 'Vermont' limitation and drafting tweaks for tasting-room language

The Department of Liquor and Lottery advised the committee to tighten draft language on fourth-class tasting rooms so the benefits flow to Vermont producers.

Wendy Nye, speaking for the department, requested that every reference to “manufacturers” in the tasting-room section be prefaced with “Vermont licensed” to ensure tasting rooms promote Vermont-made malt beverages, ready-to-drink products and spirits. Nye said the draft’s figure allowing five spirits manufacturers appeared to be a drafting error and recommended up to seven, based on the average number of Vermont manufacturers and the number of 802 spirits kiosk stores.

Nye also asked that the required notice for a one-day tasting event be expressed as a business day rather than '1 day' to avoid confusion. Committee staff agreed to insert 'Vermont' throughout the relevant subsections and circulate corrected language; members thanked Nye for the editorial review and said they would review revised drafts before any vote.