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Tasting and Event Permits

V.S.A. tit. 7, ch. 9, subch. 4
in effect

7 V.S.A. § 251 Limited event permit

251. Limited event permit (a) The Division of Liquor Control may grant a limited event permit to a person if: (1) the limited event is also approved by the local control commissioners; and (2) at least 15 days prior to the event, the applicant submits an application to the Division in a form required by the Commissioner that is accompanied by the fee provided in section 204 of this title. (b)(1) A limited event permit holder may purchase invoiced volumes of malt beverages, vinous beverages, ready-to-drink spirits beverages, fortified wines, or spirits, or all five, directly from a manufacturer, packager, wholesale dealer, or importer licensed in Vermont or a manufacturer or packager that holds a federal Basic Permit or Brewer’s Notice or evidence of licensure in a foreign country that is satisfactory to the Board. (2) The invoiced volumes of alcoholic beverages may be transported into the site and sold by the glass to the public by the permit holder or the permit holder’s employees and volunteers only during the event. (c) Not more than four limited event permits shall be issued annually to the same person, and each permit shall be valid for not more than four consecutive days. (d) The permit holder shall be subject to the provisions of this title, including section 214 of this title, and the rules of the Board regarding the sale of alcoholic beverages. The permit holder shall pay the tax on the alcoholic beverages served at the event pursuant to section 421 of this title. Amended 2001, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 9, eff. June 21, 2002; 2005, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. March 9, 2006; 2007, No. 10, § 2, eff. April 26, 2007; 2015, No. 51, § A.11, eff. Jan. 1, 2016; 2017, No. 83, § 38; 2018, No. 1 (Sp. Sess.), § 48; 2019, No. 14, § 8, eff. April 30, 2019; 2021, No. 177 (Adj. Sess.), § 13, eff. July 1, 2022; 2023, No. 67, § 5, eff. July 1, 2023.

7 V.S.A. § 252 Special event permits

252. Special event permits (a)(1) The Division of Liquor Control may issue a special event permit for an event open to the public that has been approved by the local control commissioners if the application is submitted to the Division of Liquor Control with the fee provided in section 204 of this title at least five days prior to the date of the event. (b)(1) A special event permit holder may sell alcoholic beverages manufactured or rectified by the permit holder by the glass within the event boundaries or the unopened bottle. (2) For purposes of tasting, a special event permit holder may distribute beverages manufactured or rectified by the permit holder with or without charge, provided the beverages are distributed: (A) by the glass; and (B) in quantities of not more than two ounces per product and eight ounces total of malt beverages, vinous beverages, or ready-to-drink spirits beverages and not more than one ounce in total of spirits or fortified wines to each individual. (c) A licensed manufacturer or rectifier may be issued not more than 20 special event permits for the same physical location in a calendar year. Added 2017, No. 83, § 49; amended 2018, No. 1 (Sp. Sess.), § 49; 2019, No. 73, § 47, eff. July 1, 2021; 2021, No. 177 (Adj. Sess.), § 14, eff. July 1, 2022; 2023, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § 6, eff. July 1, 2024; 2025, No. 137 (Adj. Sess.), § 4, eff. July 1, 2026.

7 V.S.A. § 253 Sampling event permits

253. Sampling event permits (a) The Division of Liquor Control may grant a sampling event permit if the applicant has: (1) received approval from the local control commissioners; (2) submitted a request for the permit to the Division in a form required by the Commissioner at least 15 days prior to the event; and (3) paid the fee provided in section 204 of this title. (b) An event required to be permitted under this section is any event that is open to the public for which the primary purpose is to serve one or more of the following: malt beverages, vinous beverages, ready-to-drink spirits beverages, fortified wines, or spirits. (c) A sampling event permit holder is permitted to conduct an event that is open to the public at which one or more of the following are served: malt beverages, vinous beverages, ready-to-drink spirits beverages, fortified wines, or spirits. (d) The permit holder shall ensure the following: (1) Attendees at the sampling event shall be required to pay an entry fee of not less than $5.00. (2)(A) Malt beverages and hard ciders for sampling shall be offered in glasses that contain not more than 12 ounces with not more than 60 ounces served to any patron at one event. (B) Vinous beverages or ready-to-drink spirits beverages for sampling shall be offered in glasses that contain not more than five ounces with not more than 25 ounces served to any patron at one event. (C) Fortified wines for sampling shall be offered in glasses that contain not more than three ounces with not more than 15 ounces served to any patron at one event. (D) Spirits for sampling shall be offered in glasses that contain not more than one ounce with not more than five ounces served to any patron at one event. (E) Patrons attending a sampling event where combinations of malt beverages, vinous beverages, ready-to-drink spirits beverages, fortified wines, or spirits are mutually sampled shall not be served more than a combined total of six U.S. standard drinks containing 3.6 fluid ounces or 84 grams of pure ethyl alcohol. (3) The event shall be conducted in compliance with all the requirements of this title. (e)(1) A sampling event permit holder may purchase invoiced volumes of malt beverages, vinous beverages, or ready-to-drink spirits beverages directly from a manufacturer, wholesale dealer, or packager licensed in Vermont or a manufacturer, wholesale dealer, or packager that holds a federal Basic Permit or Brewers Notice or evidence of licensure in a foreign country that is satisfactory to the Board. (2) The invoiced volumes of malt beverages, vinous beverages, or ready-to-drink spirits beverages may be transported to the site and sold by the glass to the public by the permit holder or its employees and volunteers only during the event. (f) A sampling event permit holder shall be subject to the provisions of this title, including section 214 of this title, and the rules of the Board regarding the sale of the alcoholic beverages and shall pay the tax on the malt beverages, vinous beverages, or ready-to-drink spirits beverages pursuant to section 421 of this title. (g) A person shall be granted not more than four sampling event permits per year, and each permit shall be valid for not more than four consecutive days. Added 2017, No. 83, § 50; amended 2018, No. 1 (Sp. Sess.), § 50; 2021, No. 70, § 3; 2021, No. 177 (Adj. Sess.), § 15, eff. July 1, 2022; 2023, No. 67, § 6, eff. July 1, 2023; 2023, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § 5, eff. June 4, 2024.

7 V.S.A. § 254 Special venue serving permits

254. Special venue serving permits (a) The Division of Liquor Control may grant an art gallery, retail establishment, public library, or museum a special venue serving permit if the applicant has: (1) received approval from the local control commissioners; (2) submitted a request for a permit to the Division in a form required by the Commissioner at least five days prior to the event; and (3) paid the fee provided in section 204 of this title. (b) A permit holder may purchase malt beverages, vinous beverages, or ready-to-drink spirits beverages directly from a licensed retailer. (c) A permit holder shall be subject to the provisions of this title and the rules of the Board regarding the service of alcoholic beverages. A permit holder shall be authorized to serve, but not sell, alcoholic beverages for not more than six hours and solely for consumption on the permitted premises. (d) A public library or museum may only be granted a permit pursuant to this section for an event held for a charitable or educational purpose at which malt beverages, vinous beverages, and ready-to-drink spirits beverages will be served for a period of not more than six hours. (e) An art gallery, retail establishment, public library, or museum may be issued not more than 12 special venue serving permits in a calendar year. (f) As used in this section, “retail establishment” does not include a Vermont agency liquor store or a cannabis establishment as that term is defined in section 861 of this title. Added 2017, No. 83, § 51; amended 2018, No. 1 (Sp. Sess.), § 51; 2021, No. 177 (Adj. Sess.), § 16, eff. July 1, 2022; 2023, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. July 1, 2024.

7 V.S.A. § 255 Retail alcoholic beverage tasting permits

255. Retail alcoholic beverage tasting permits (a) The Division of Liquor Control may grant a licensee a permit to conduct an alcoholic beverage tasting event as provided in subsection (b) of this section if: (1) the licensee has submitted a written application in a form required by the Commissioner and paid the fee provided in section 204 of this title at least one business day prior to the date of the alcoholic beverage tasting event; and (2) the Commissioner determines that the licensee is in good standing. (b) The Division may grant the following alcoholic beverage tasting permits to the following types of licensees: (1) A second-class licensee. (A) The permit authorizes the employees of the second-class licensee or of a designated manufacturer or rectifier to dispense to each customer of legal age on the licensee’s premises malt beverages, vinous beverages, or ready-to-drink spirits beverages by the glass not to exceed two ounces of each beverage with a total of eight ounces of malt beverages, vinous beverages, or ready-to-drink spirits beverages. (B) Malt beverages, vinous beverages, or ready-to-drink spirits beverages dispensed at the tasting event shall be from the inventory of the licensee or purchased from a wholesale dealer. (C) A second-class licensee may be granted up to 48 tasting permits per year. In addition, a second-class licensee may be granted up to five permits per week to conduct a tasting as part of an educational food preparation class or course conducted by the licensee on the licensee’s premises. (2) A licensed manufacturer or rectifier of maltbeverages, vinous beverages, or ready-to-drink spirits beverages. (A) The permit authorizes the licensed manufacturer or rectifier to dispense to each customer of legal age for consumption on the premises of a second-class licensee beverages produced by the manufacturer or rectifier by the glass not to exceed two ounces of each beverage with a total of eight ounces of malt beverages, vinous beverages, or ready-to-drink spirits beverages. (B) A manufacturer or rectifier may conduct no more than 48 tastings per year. (3) A licensed wholesale dealer. The permit authorizes a licensed wholesale dealer to dispense malt beverages, vinous beverages, or ready-to-drink spirits beverages for promotional purposes at the wholesale dealer’s premises without charge to invited employees of first-, second-, and third-class licensees, provided the invited employees are of legal age. (c) A vinous beverage, ready-to-drink spirits beverage, or malt beverage tasting event held pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, not including an alcoholic beverage tasting conducted on the premises of the manufacturer or rectifier, shall comply with the following: (1) continue for not more than six hours, with not more than six beverages to be offered at a single event, and not more than two ounces of any single beverage and not more than a total of eight ounces of malt beverages, vinous beverages, or ready-to-drink spirits beverages to be dispensed to a customer; (2) serve no more than eight individuals at one time; and (3) be conducted totally within a designated area that extends no further than 10 feet from the point of service and that is marked by a clearly visible sign that states that no one under 21 years of age may participate in the tasting. (d) The holder of a permit issued under this section shall keep an accurate accounting of the beverages consumed at a tasting event and shall be responsible for complying with all applicable laws under this title. (e) The holder of a permit issued under this section that provides alcoholic beverages to a minor or permits an individual under 18 years of age to serve alcoholic beverages at a tasting event under this section shall be fined not less than $500.00 nor more than $2,000.00 or imprisoned not more than two years, or both. Added 2017, No. 83, § 52; amended 2018, No. 1 (Sp. Sess.), § 52; 2021, No. 177 (Adj. Sess.), § 17, eff. July 1, 2022; 2025, No. 137 (Adj. Sess.), § 5, eff. July 1, 2026.

7 V.S.A. § 256 Promotional tastings for licensees

256. Promotional tastings for licensees (a)(1) At the request of a first- or second-class licensee, a holder of a manufacturer’s, rectifier’s, or wholesale dealer’s license may distribute without charge to the first- or second-class licensee’s management and staff, provided they are of legal age, two ounces per person of vinous beverages, malt beverages, or ready-to-drink spirits beverages for the purpose of promoting the beverage. (2) At the request of a holder of a third-class license, a manufacturer or rectifier of spirits or fortified wines may distribute without charge to the third-class licensee’s management and staff, provided they are of legal age, one-quarter ounce of each beverage and not more than a total of one ounce to each individual for the purpose of promoting the beverage. (3) No permit is required for a tasting pursuant to this subsection. (b)(1) At the request of a holder of a wholesale dealer’s license, a first-class licensee may dispense malt beverages, vinous beverages, or ready-to-drink spirits beverages for promotional purposes without charge to invited management and staff of first-, second-, or third-class licensees, provided they are of legal age. (2) The event shall be held on the premises of the first-class licensee. (3) The first-class licensee shall be responsible for complying with all applicable laws under this title. (4) No permit is required for a tasting pursuant to this subsection, but the wholesale dealer shall provide written notice of the event to the Division of Liquor Control at least 10 days prior to the date of the tasting. (c)(1) Upon receipt of a first- or second-class application by the Division, a holder of a wholesale dealer’s license may dispense malt beverages, vinous beverages, or ready-to-drink spirits beverages for promotional purposes without charge to invited management and staff of the business that has applied for a first- or second-class license, provided they are of legal age. (2) The event shall be held on the premises of the first- or second-class applicant. (3) The first- or second-class applicant shall be responsible for complying with all applicable laws under this title. (4) No malt beverages, vinous beverages, or ready-to-drink spirits beverages shall be left behind at the conclusion of the tasting. (5) No permit is required under this subsection, but the wholesale dealer shall provide written notice of the event to the Division at least five days prior to the date of the tasting. Added 2017, No. 83, § 53; amended 2017, No. 113 (Adj. Sess.), § 40; 2018, No. 1 (Sp. Sess.), § 53; 2021, No. 70, § 4; 2021, No. 177 (Adj. Sess.), § 18, eff. July 1, 2022.

7 V.S.A. § 257 Tastings for product quality assurance

257. Tastings for product quality assurance (a) A licensed manufacturer or rectifier may distribute to its management and staff who are directly involved in the production of the licensee’s products, provided they are of legal age and at the licensed premises, samples of the licensee’s products for the purpose of assuring the quality of the products. (b) Each sample of malt beverages, vinous beverages, or ready-to-drink spirits beverages shall be not larger than two ounces, and each sample of spirits or fortified wines shall be not larger than one-quarter ounce. (c) No permit is required for a tasting pursuant to this section. Added 2017, No. 83, § 54; amended 2021, No. 177 (Adj. Sess.), § 19, eff. July 1, 2022.

7 V.S.A. § 258 Promotional railroad tasting permit

258. Promotional railroad tasting permit The Division of Liquor Control may grant to a person that operates a railroad a tasting permit that permits the holder to conduct tastings of alcoholic beverages in the dining car if the person files with the Division an application along with the fee provided in section 204 of this title. Amended 2009, No. 102 (Adj. Sess.), § 5, eff. May 11, 2010; 2017, No. 83, § 43; 2018, No. 1 (Sp. Sess.), § 54.

7 V.S.A. § 259 Tasting events; age and training of servers

259. Tasting events; age and training of servers No individual who is under 18 years of age or who has not received training as required by the Division may serve alcoholic beverages at a tasting event under this subchapter. Added 2017, No. 83, § 55; amended 2018, No. 1 (Sp. Sess.), § 55.
Source: Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)URL: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/07/009Fetched: 10/21/2026

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