Vermont H. 376: An act relating to occupational safety and workers' compensation

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.376
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VT LEG #379060 v.2
H.376 1
Introduced by Representatives Nugent of South Burlington, Bos-Lun of 2
Westminster, Cina of Burlington, Cordes of Bristol, Headrick of 3
Burlington, McGill of Bridport, Ode of Burlington, Pouech of 4
Hinesburg, and Priestley of Bradford 5
Referred to Committee on 6
Date: 7
Subject: Alcoholic beverages; manufacturers and rectifiers; labeling 8
requirements; taxes 9
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to (1) require all 10
alcoholic beverages sold in the State to bear a label containing a statement of 11
the alcohol content in U.S. Standard Drinks; (2) increase the gallonage taxes 12
on malt beverages and vinous beverages; (3) increase the excise tax on spirits; 13
(4) create the Treatment and Recovery Fund, dedicate the proceeds of the 14
gallonage tax to the Fund, and establish the purposes for which monies from 15
the Fund may be disbursed; and (5) require the Division of Liquor Control to 16
study and report on compliance with Vermont law governing the shipment of 17
alcoholic beverages to consumers. 18
An act relating to the creation of the Treatment and Recovery Fund and the 19
labeling and taxation of alcoholic beverages 20

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VT LEG #379060 v.2
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 1
* * * Labeling Requirement; U.S. Standard Drink Equivalent * * * 2
Sec. 1. FINDINGS, INTENT, AND SHORT TITLE 3
(a) The General Assembly finds: 4
(1) the State of Vermont is currently experiencing an education funding 5
crisis and one of the central drivers of the increased education fund pressures 6
are the costs associated with treating mental health needs of youth and 7
families; 8
(2) there is a need to fund mental health, treatment, and recovery 9
resources; 10
(3) the consumption of alcoholic beverages is a significant factor for 11
mental health, overdoses, and cancer diagnoses; 12
(4) the responsible consumption of alcoholic beverages requires that the 13
consumer be adequately informed of the beverage and its contents; and 14
(5) according to the 2024 Direct to Consumer Shipping Pilot Program 15
conducted by the Department of Liquor and Lottery, 100% of the direct-to-16
consumer shipments received under the Program failed to fully comply with 17
Vermont law. 18
(b) Therefore, it is the intent of the General Assembly that: 19
(1) all alcoholic beverages sold in the State bear a label that discloses 20
the alcohol content in a form and manner that adequately informs the consumer 21

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of serving size and that alcohol content labeling be consistent throughout all 1
beverage alcohol categories; and 2
(2) the gallonage tax on certain alcoholic beverages be increased to 3
offset the continuing costs of support services and that all proceeds be 4
deposited in a special fund for that purpose. 5
Sec. 2. 7 V.S.A. § 6 is added to read: 6
§ 6. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTAINERS; LABELING 7
(a) Malt beverages, vinous beverages, and ready-to-drink spirits beverages. 8
A manufacturer or rectifier of malt beverages, vinous beverages, or ready-to-9
drink spirits beverages shall not sell or distribute its alcoholic beverages in the 10
State unless the labeling or packaging of the product includes a statement of 11
alcohol content in U.S. Standard Drinks. The statement of alcohol content in 12
U.S. Standard drinks shall be in a format permitted under the labeling 13
regulations adopted by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. 14
(b) Spirits and fortified wines. The Department of Liquor and Lottery, and 15
any manufacturer or rectifier that sells unopened containers at a fourth-class 16
location, shall affix a statement of alcohol content label on all spirits and 17
fortified wines sold in the State. The label shall state the alcohol content of the 18
beverage in U.S. Standard Drinks. The Department shall provide labels to the 19
holder of a fourth-class license for purposes of labeling unopened containers 20
sold from the premises. The Department may adopt requirements for the form, 21

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format, and contents of the label by rule pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter 25, 1
provided that the statement of alcohol content shall be in a format permitted 2
under the labeling regulations adopted by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and 3
Trade Bureau. 4
(c) Any alcoholic beverage sold in the State shall bear a cancer warning 5
and serving facts label. The cancer warning shall state “WARNING: Drinking 6
alcoholic beverages may increase cancer risk and, if consumed during 7
pregnancy, can cause birth defects.” The serving facts label shall state the 8
following: 9
(1) serving size in U.S. Standard Drinks; 10
(2) alcohol by volume; 11
(3) calories per U.S. Standard Drink; and 12
(4) measurements in grams for total fat, saturated fat, sodium, total 13
carbohydrates, tot