Alabama alcohol laws

Alcohol laws enacted in Alabama

7 alcohol laws enacted in the Alabama Legislature in the 2025 and 2026 sessions, newest first. Each links to the legislature's own page.

• HB 593Small Craft Alcoholic Beverage Producers; licensing of small craft distilleries, small craft wineries, and small craft alcoholic beverage producers authorizedTook effect 1 October 2026

  What it requires: The Alcoholic Beverage Control Board must issue licenses to brewpubs, small craft distilleries, and small craft wineries that meet specified qualifications and production limits. Brewpubs must not exceed 10,000 barrels annually; small craft distilleries must not exceed 50,000 gallons annually; small craft wineries must not exceed 50,000 gallons annually. All licensees must actively and continuously manufacture their products and comply with tax obligations.

  Licensing and retail permits

• SB 287Alcoholic beverage importers; to recognize that an importer licensee may import alcoholic beverages from any jurisdiction outside of the State of AlabamaTook effect 1 October 2026

  What it requires: A person licensed by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to import alcoholic beverages may import alcoholic beverages manufactured anywhere outside the state. Importer licensees must file label lists and federal label approvals with the board before making sales, mail consolidated monthly reports of shipments to the board, and maintain books and records open to board inspection.

  Three-tier, distribution and franchise

• HB 408City of Alabaster; entertainment districts authorizedTook effect 1 June 2026

  What it requires: The Alabaster City Council may establish not more than two entertainment districts by ordinance and must regulate their hours of operation. Retail licensees of the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board in entertainment districts may obtain permits allowing patrons to carry open containers within the district. The ordinance must prohibit non-licensees from possessing alcoholic beverages acquired outside the district within it.

  Licensing and retail permits

• HB 8Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, regulation of retail sale of certain tobacco products and electronic nicotine delivery systems, further providedEnacted 14 May 2025

  What it requires: E-liquids, electronic nicotine delivery systems, and vapor-based alternative nicotine products may be sold only by a person permitted under Section 28-11-7, except that products with a marketing order or authorization under 21 U.S.C. § 387j(c)(1)(A)(i) may be sold by such permitted persons.

• SB 312Alcoholic beverage licenses; to license storage of alcoholic beverages to dispense at special events, including government venuesTook effect 1 July 2025

  What it requires: Holders of certain special event licenses must obtain an event storage license to store alcoholic beverages at a permanent facility and transfer them to special event venues. Licensees must track all transfers on board-prescribed forms, maintain three-year records, and return unconsumed beverages to storage before transferring to another venue. Storage facilities must be secured, access-controlled, and temperature-controlled.

  Licensing and retail permits

• SB 316ABC Board; establishing a new license for an educational tourism distilleryTook effect 1 October 2025

  What it requires: Suppliers of mixed spirit beverages must sell only through licensed wholesalers and grant each wholesaler a written distribution agreement with exclusive sales territory. Wholesalers must file monthly returns showing mixed spirit beverage receipts and sales. Educational tourism distillery licensees must produce at least 100,000 gallons annually, derive 50 percent of gross sales from on-site production, and pay taxes on manufactured liquor at ABC store rates.

  Licensing and retail permits

• SB 25Community development districts; alcoholic beverage tax in certain districts, distribution of proceeds provided forTook effect 1 June 2025

  What it requires: Counties must deposit proceeds from sales tax on alcoholic beverages collected in community development districts into a special fund in the county treasury. Grants from these proceeds shall be distributed based on recommendations from each legislator representing a portion of the county, proportional to the population that legislator represents.

  Excise taxes and fees

Alcohol in Alabama, by topic

• Licensing and retail permits

  8 bills, 4 enacted. Enacted in 41 states.

• Three-tier, distribution and franchise

  5 bills, 1 enacted. Enacted in 23 states.

• Excise taxes and fees

  5 bills, 1 enacted. Enacted in 19 states.

• Hemp and THC beverages

  1 bill. Enacted in 9 states.

• Underage sales and liability

  1 bill. Enacted in 16 states.