Section 28-3-1 Definitions. (Amended by Act 2026-504)

AMENDED BY ACT 2026-504, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2026. SEE ACT FOR REVISED LANGUAGE. As used in this title, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: (1) ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES. Any alcoholic, spirituous, vinous, fermented, or other alcoholic beverage, or combination of liquors and mixed liquor, a part of which is spirituous, vinous, fermented, or otherwise alcoholic, and all drinks or drinkable liquids, preparations or mixtures intended for beverage purposes, which contain one-half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume, and shall include liquor, beer, and wine. (2) ASSOCIATION. A partnership, limited partnership, or any form of unincorporated enterprise owned by two or more persons. (3) BEER, or MALT OR BREWED BEVERAGES. Any beer, lager beer, ale, porter, malt or brewed beverage, or similar fermented beverage containing one-half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume and not in excess of thirteen and nine-tenths percent alcohol by volume, brewed or produced from malt, wholly or in part, or from rice, grain of any kind, bran, glucose, sugar, or molasses. A beer or malt or brewed beverage may incorporate honey, fruit, fruit juice, fruit concentrate, herbs, spices, or other flavorings during the fermentation process. The term does not include any product defined as liquor, table wine, or wine. (4) BOARD. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. (5) BRANDY. All beverages that are an alcoholic distillate from the fermented juice, mash, or wine of fruit, or from the residue thereof, produced in such manner that the distillate possesses the taste, aroma, and characteristics generally attributed to the beverage, as bottled at not less than 80 degree proof. (6) CARTON. The package or container or containers in which alcoholic beverages are originally packaged for shipment to market by the manufacturer or its designated representatives or the importer. (7) CIDER. A fermented alcoholic beverage made from apple juice and containing not more than 8.5 percent alcohol by volume. (8) CLUB. a. Class I. A corporation or association organized or formed in good faith by authority of law and which must have at least 150 paid-up members. It must be the owner, lessee, or occupant of an establishment operated solely for the objects of a national, social, patriotic, political, or athletic nature or the like, but not for pecuniary gain, and the property as well as the advantages of which, belong to all the members and which maintains an establishment provided with special space and accommodations where, in consideration of payment, food with or without lodging is habitually served. The club shall hold regular meetings, continue its business through officers regularly elected, admit members by written application, investigation, and ballot, and charge and collect dues from elected members. b. Class II. A corporation or association organized or formed in good faith by authority of law and which must have at least 100 paid-up members. It must be the owner, lessee, or occupant of an establishment operated solely for the objects of a national, social, patriotic, political, or athletic nature or the like. The club shall hold regular meetings, continue its business through officers regularly elected, admit members by written application, investigation, and ballot, and charge and collect dues from elected members. (9) CONTAINER. The single bottle, can, keg, bag, or other receptacle, not a carton, in which alcoholic beverages are originally packaged for the market by the manufacturer or importer and from which the alcoholic beverage is consumed by or dispensed to the public. (10) CORPORATION. A corporation or joint stock association organized under the laws of this state, the United States, or any other state, territory or foreign country, or dependency. (11) DELIVERY. The transportation of alcoholic beverages directly from a retail licensee of the board to an individual, pursuant to Section 28-1-4 and Section 28-3A-13.1. (12) DELIVERY SERVICE LICENSE. A license issued by the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board in accordance with Section 28-3A-13.1 that authorizes the licensee, the licensee’s employees, or independent contractors under a contractual or business arrangement with the licensee to transport and deliver alcoholic beverages. (13) DRY COUNTY. Any county which by a majority of those voting voted in the negative in an election heretofore held under the applicable statutes at the time of the election or may hereafter vote in the negative in an election or special method referendum hereafter held in accordance with Chapter 2, or held in accordance with the provisions of any act hereafter enacted permitting such election. (14) DRY MUNICIPALITY. Any municipality within a wet county which has, by its governing body or by a majority of those voting in a municipal election heretofore held in accordance with the provisions of Section 28-2-22, or in a municipal option election heretofore or hereafter held in accordance with the provisions of Act 84-408, Acts of Alabama 1984, appearing as Chapter 2A, or any act hereafter enacted permitting municipal option election, voted to exclude the sale of alcoholic beverages within the corporate limits of the municipality. (15) EMPLOYEE. An individual to whom an employer is required to issue a W-2 tax form under federal law. (16) GENERAL WELFARE PURPOSES. All of the following: a. The administration of public assistance as set out in Sections 38-2-5 and 38-4-1. b. Services, including supplementation and supplementary services under the federal Social Security Act, to or on behalf of persons to whom public assistance may be given under Sections 38-2-5 and 38-4-1. c. Service to and on behalf of dependent, neglected, or delinquent children. d. Investigative and referral services to and on behalf of needy persons. (17) HEARING COMMISSION. A body appointed by the board to hear and decide all contested license applications and all disciplinary charges against any licensee for violation of this title or the rules of the board. (18) HOTEL. A building or buildings held out to the public for housing accommodations of travelers or transients, and shall include motel, but shall not include a rooming house or boarding house. (19) IMPORTER. Any person, association, or corporation engaged in importing alcoholic beverages, liquor, wine, or beer, manufactured outside of the United States of America into this state or for sale or distribution in this state, or to the board or to a licensee of the board. (20) INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR. An individual to whom an employer is required to issue a 1099 tax form under federal law. (21) KEG. A pressurized factory sealed container with a capacity equal to or greater than five U.S. gallons, from which beer is withdrawn by means of an external tap. (22) LIQUOR. Any alcoholic, spirituous, vinous, fermented, or other alcoholic beverage, or combination of liquors and mixed liquor, a part of which is spirituous, fermented, vinous, or otherwise alcoholic, and all drinks or drinkable liquids, preparations, or mixtures intended for beverage purposes, which contain one-half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume, except beer and table wine. (23) LIQUOR STORE. A liquor store operated by the board, where alcoholic beverages other than beer are authorized to be sold in unopened containers. (24) MANUFACTURER. Any person, association, or corporation engaged in the producing, bottling, manufacturing, distilling, rectifying, or compounding of alcoholic beverages, liquor, beer, or wine in this state or for sale or distribution in this state or to the board or to a licensee of the board. (25) MEAD. An alcoholic beverage produced by fermenting a solution of honey and water with grain mash and containing not more than 18 percent alcohol by volume. (26) MEAL. A diversified selection of food some of which is not susceptible of being consumed in the absence of at least some articles of tableware and which cannot be conveniently consumed while one is standing or walking about. (27) MINOR. Any person under 21 years of age; provided, however, in the event Section 28-1-5, shall be repealed or otherwise shall be no longer in effect, thereafter the provisions of Section 26-1-1, shall govern. (28) MUNICIPALITY. Any incorporated city or town of this state to include its police jurisdiction. (29) PERSON. Every natural person, association, or corporation. Whenever used in a clause prescribing or imposing a fine or imprisonment, or both, such term as applied to association shall mean the partners or members thereof and as applied to corporation shall mean the officers thereof, except as to incorporated clubs the term person shall mean such individual or individuals who, under the bylaws of such clubs, shall have jurisdiction over the possession and sale of liquor therein. (30) POPULATION. The population according to the last preceding or any subsequent decennial census of the United States, except where a municipality is incorporated subsequent to the last census, in which event, its population until the next decennial census shall be the population of the municipality as determined by the judge of probate of the county as the official population on the date of its incorporation. (31) RESTAURANT. A reputable place licensed as a restaurant, operated by a responsible person of good reputation and habitually and principally used for the purpose of preparing and serving meals for the public to consume on the premises. (32) RETAILER. Any person licensed by the board to engage in the retail sale of any alcoholic beverages to the consumer. (33) SALE or SELL. Any transfer of liquor, wine or beer for a consideration, and any gift in connection with, or as a part of, a transfer of property other than liquor, wine, or beer for a consideration. (34) SELLING PRICE. The total marked-up price of spirituous or vinous liquors sold by the board, exclusive of taxes levied thereon. (35) TABLE WINE. Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, any wine containing not more than 24 percent alcohol by volume. Table wine does not include any wine containing more than sixteen and one-half percent alcohol by volume that is made with herbs or flavors, except vermouth, or is an imitation or other than standard wine. Table wine is not liquor, spirituous, or vinous. (36) UNOPENED CONTAINER. A container containing alcoholic beverages, which has not been opened or unsealed subsequent to filling and sealing by the manufacturer or importer. (37) WET COUNTY. Any county which by a majority of those voting voted in the affirmative in an election heretofore held in accordance with the statutes applicable at the time of the election or may hereafter vote in the affirmative in an election or special method referendum held in accordance with Chapter 2, or other statutes applicable at the time of the election. (38) WET MUNICIPALITY. Any municipality in a dry county which by a majority of those voting voted in the affirmative in a municipal option election heretofore or hereafter held in accordance with the provisions of Act 84-408, Acts of Alabama 1984, appearing as Chapter 2A of this title, as amended, or any act hereafter enacted permitting municipal option election, or any municipality which became wet by vote of the governing body or by the voters of the municipality heretofore or hereafter held under the special method referendum provisions of Section 28-2-22, or as hereafter provided, where the county has become dry subsequent to the elected wet status of the municipality. (39) WHOLESALER. Any person licensed by the board to engage in the sale and distribution of table wine and beer, or either of them, within this state, at wholesale only, to be sold by export or to retail licensees or other wholesale licensees or others within this state lawfully authorized to sell table wine and beer, or either of them, for the purpose of resale only. (40) WINE. All beverages made from the fermentation of fruits, berries, or grapes, with or without added spirits, and produced in accordance with the laws and regulations of the United States, containing not more than 24 percent alcohol by volume, and shall include all sparkling wines, carbonated wines, special natural wines, rectified wines, vermouths, vinous beverages, vinous liquors, and like products, including restored or unrestored pure condensed juice.