06 LC 36
0187
House
Bill 1436
By:
Representatives Smith of the
113th,
Ehrhart of the
36th,
Chambers of the
81st,
Drenner of the
86th,
Burkhalter of the
50th,
and others
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Article 1 of Chapter 6 of Title 3 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to wine, so as to authorize
restaurant patrons to remove for off-premises consumption a resealed partially
consumed bottle of wine that was purchased with a full-course meal; to provide
for a definition of the term full-course meal; to amend Article 11 of Chapter 6
of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to miscellaneous
provisions of the uniform rules of the road, so as to provide that a resealed
partially consumed bottle of wine that was purchased with a full-course meal is
not an open alcoholic beverage container for purposes of the prohibition against
possessing an open container of alcohol in the passenger area of a motor
vehicle; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for
other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Article
1 of Chapter 6 of Title 3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
general provisions relative to wine, is amended by inserting at the end thereof
a new Code Section 3-6-4 to read as follows:
"3-6-4.
(a)
As used in this Code section, the term 'full-course meal' means a meal
consisting of a salad or vegetable, an entree, a beverage, and
bread.
(b)
Notwithstanding any other contrary provision of law, any establishment which is
licensed to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises may permit
a consumer to remove an unsealed bottle of wine for consumption off premises, if
the patron has purchased a full-course meal and consumed a portion of the bottle
of wine on the premises with such meal on the
establishment́s
premises. A partially consumed bottle of wine that is to be removed from the
premises must be securely resealed by the licensee or its employees before
removal from the premises. The partially consumed bottle of wine shall be
placed in a bag or other container that is secured in such a manner that it is
visibly apparent if the container has been subsequently opened or tampered with,
and a dated receipt for the bottle of wine and full-course meal shall be
provided by the licensee and attached to the container. If transported in a
motor vehicle, the container with the resealed bottle of wine must be placed in
a locked glove compartment, a locked trunk, or the area behind the last upright
seat of a motor vehicle that is not equipped with a
trunk."
SECTION
2.
Article
11 of Chapter 6 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to miscellaneous provisions of the uniform rules of the road, is amended by
striking paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Code Section 40-6-253, relating to
consumption of alcoholic beverages or possession of open container of alcoholic
beverage in passenger area, and inserting in its place a new paragraph (2) to
read as follows:
"(2)
'Open alcoholic beverage container' means any bottle, can, or other receptacle
that:
(A)
Contains any amount of alcoholic beverage; and
(B)(i)
Is open or has a broken seal; or
(ii)
The contents of which are partially removed.
A
bottle of wine that has been resealed and is transported pursuant to Code
Section 3-6-4 shall not constitute an open alcoholic beverage container for
purposes of this Code
section."
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.