On February 7, 2012, Rep. Su Ryden and Sen. Rollie Heath introduced HB 12-1270 – Concerning an Increase in the Limit on the Amount of Alcohol Beverages for On-Premises Consumption May Purchase from a Licensed Alcohol Beverage Retailer. This summary is published here courtesy of the Colorado Bar Association’s e-Legislative Report.

Current law limits the amount of alcohol beverages persons licensed to sell alcohol beverages for consumption on a licensed premises may purchase at retail, rather than from a licensed alcohol beverage wholesaler. For hotel and restaurant licensees, the limit is $1,000 worth of alcohol beverages per year; for all other on-premises licensees, the limit is $500 worth of alcohol beverages per year.

The bill increases the limit to $2,000 worth of alcohol beverages per year for beer and wine, hotel and restaurant, and tavern licensees may purchase at retail, rather than from a licensed alcohol beverage wholesaler for consumption on a licensed premises. For all other persons licensed to sell alcohol beverages for on-premises consumption, including retail gaming tavern, brew pub, and club licensees, the bill phases in the increase in the limit as follows:

• For the 2013 calendar year, the limit is increased to $1,000;
• For the 2014 calendar year, the limit is increased to $1,500; and
• For the 2015 calendar year and calendar years thereafter, the limit is increased to $2,000.

The bill has cleared both houses and now heads to the Governor’s desk for signature.

Since this summary, the House considered the Senate’s amendments on March 27, and the result of that consideration was laid over daily.

Summaries of other featured bills can be found here.