Michigan alcohol laws

What it would do: Expands the definition of acceptable identification for age verification when selling alcohol to include secure identity verification devices that electronically scan biometrics against verified picture identification and authenticated identity information.

What it would do: Amends restrictions on liquor licensees owning motor fuel pumps by allowing specially designated merchant licenses to operate fuel pumps if alcoholic liquor sales are at least 5 feet from fuel dispensing, and modifies conditions for distributors in small townships and counties.

What it would do: Amends Michigan's liquor control code to allow wholesalers to sell nonalcoholic beer to brewers for tasting room sales, establish administrative fees for dishonored payments to wholesalers, permit vendors to provide gifts and signage to college retailers, and expand sampling and promotional activities for alcoholic beverages.

What it would do: Amends the Food Law to add a definition of 'qualified premises' that includes licensed premises of micro brewers, small wine makers, and tasting rooms as defined in the Michigan liquor control code.

What it would do: Modifies the definitions of Class A hotel and Class B hotel licenses to require 25 or more bedrooms in local governmental units with populations under 175,000, or 50 or more bedrooms in units with populations of 175,000 or more, instead of the previous 20-room requirement.

What it would do: Reduces the petition signature requirement for county alcohol sales referendums from 8% to 5% of votes cast for secretary of state at the last general election, and modifies ballot language options for spirits and mixed spirit drink sales prohibition questions on Sundays and early Monday mornings.

What it would do: Increases the discount for specially designated distributors and on-premises licensees from 17% to 23% on alcoholic liquor purchased from the state, and establishes a 32.5% gross profit requirement for qualified distilled spirits manufactured by certified small distillers using at least 40% Michigan-grown grain.

What it would do: Prohibits the liquor control commission from considering a qualified violation when issuing, denying, suspending, or revoking a license if at least 2 years have elapsed since the violation. Qualified violations exclude crimes and state civil infractions.

What it would do: Prohibits off-premises retailers with sales floors exceeding 2,500 square feet from displaying co-branded alcoholic beverages adjacent to soft drinks, juices, water, candy, toys, or youth-oriented snack foods. Smaller retailers may display such beverages if they post specified warning signage.

What it would do: Requires wholesalers to charge retailers administrative fees for dishonored payments, ranging from $50 for the first dishonored payment to $250 for the fifth or subsequent dishonored payment within 12 months of the first dishonored payment.

What it would do: Requires special license applicants to submit applications to the commission at least 45 days before the desired license date, with commission approval required within 10 days of that date. Allows authorized individuals to sign applications and permits electronic submission within 12 months of the law's effective date.

What it would do: Allows vendors of spirits, beer, and wine; their representatives; and third-party engravers to engrave bottles before or after consumer purchase from specially designated retailers, including during sampling and tasting events, without violating possession restrictions.

What it would do: Increases the annual volume cap for direct shippers of wine from 13,500 liters to 81,000 liters per calendar year, and from 1,500 9-liter cases to 9,000 9-liter cases, with aggregate limits for commonly managed direct shippers.

What it would do: Reduces the population threshold for cities or townships where the liquor commission may issue licenses to municipal civic centers or auditoriums from 5,500 to 5,000.

What it would do: Amends the Michigan Liquor Control Code to rename the grape and wine industry council to the Michigan craft beverage council and revise its membership composition and duties related to research, grants, and promotion of Michigan agricultural products used in wine, beer, cider, and spirits production.

What it would do: Removes the quota requirement for specially designated merchant licenses in Michigan, allowing the commission to issue them without the previous limit of one license per 1,000 population.