Retail Liquor Stores Additional Licenses

Under current law, a retail liquor store licensee that was licensed on or before January 1, 2016, and is a Colorado resident is permitted to obtain one additional retail liquor store license on or after January 1, 2017; 2 additional retail liquor store licenses on or after January 1, 2022; and 3 additional retail liquor store licenses on or after January 1, 2027.

The bill modifies the provisions governing the ability of a retail liquor store to obtain additional retail liquor store licenses as follows:

• Retains the ability of a retail liquor store owner that applied for a license on or before January 1, 2016, to obtain one additional retail liquor store license on or after January 1, 2017, but removes the requirement that the licensee be a Colorado resident;
• On or after the effective date of the bill, mirrors the multiple license provisions applicable to liquor-licensed drugstore licenses by allowing a retail liquor store owner to obtain: A maximum of 5 total retail liquor store licenses between the effective date of the bill and December 31, 2021; a maximum of 8 total retail liquor store licenses between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2026; a maximum of 13 total retail liquor store licenses between January 1, 2027, and December 31, 2031; a maximum of 20 total retail liquor store licenses between January 1, 2032, and December 31, 2036; and an unlimited number of retail liquor store licenses on or after January 1, 2037; and
• For additional licenses obtained on or after the effective date of the bill, requires a person seeking additional licenses to apply to transfer ownership of, change location of, and merge at least 2 retail liquor store licenses located within the same local licensing authority jurisdiction as the applicant's premises into a single retail liquor store license.

Additionally, the bill prohibits a retail liquor store from allowing customers to use a self-checkout to complete an alcohol beverage purchase and requires a retail liquor store to:

• Verify the age of a customer attempting to purchase an alcohol beverage by examining the customer's valid identification; and
• Maintain certification as a responsible alcohol beverage vendor.

The bill sets state and local application fees for a retail liquor store licensee applying for a transfer of ownership, change of location, and merger of 2 retail liquor store licenses.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)