STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1768

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 16

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 16, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LIQUOR,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize liquor licensees engaged in meal service to sell unopened beer, wine, and prepackaged cocktails with food for pick up, delivery, take out, or other means to be consumed off-premises; and

(2) Authorize liquor licensees holding class 4 retail dealer licenses to deliver purchased liquor to a customer's vehicle.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Kauai Beer Company, Big Island Brewhaus, Honolulu Beerworks, Craft ‘Ohana, Lanikai Brewing Company, Waikiki Brewing Company, Maui Chamber of Commerce, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Liquor Commission for the City and County of Honolulu and Department of Liquor Control for the County of Kauai.

Your Committee finds that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic brought about changes in customers' purchasing habits. Consumers purchased more merchandise and meals online and used curbside pick-up. Many restaurants were allowed to include unopened beer, wine, and bottled or canned cocktails. Although these measures were implemented to support local businesses during the pandemic, takeout meals and curbside pickup have become permanent customer demands. Your Committee also finds that the county liquor commissions and liquor control adjudication boards did not experience an increase of complaints or compliance problems as a result of these pandemic-related policies. Accordingly, this measure permanently authorizes these pandemic-related liquor policies, thus adapting to evolving consumer demands.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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. 16, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 16, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

________________________________

JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair