125.01 Legislative intent. This chapter shall be construed as an enactment of the legislature's support for the 3-tier system for alcohol beverages production, distribution, and sale that, through uniform statewide regulation, provides this state regulatory authority over the production, storage, distribution, transportation, sale, and consumption of alcohol beverages by and to its citizens, for the benefit of the public health and welfare and this state's economic stability. Without the 3-tier system, the effective statewide regulation and collection of state taxes on alcohol beverages sales would be seriously jeopardized. It is further the intent of the legislature that without a specific statutory exception, all sales of alcohol beverages shall occur through the 3-tier system, from manufacturers to wholesalers holding a permit to retailers to consumers. Face-to-face retail sales at licensed premises directly advance the state's interest in preventing alcohol sales to underage or intoxicated persons and the state's interest in efficient and effective collection of tax.

History: 1981 c. 79; 2005 a. 103; 2007 a. 85; 2011 a. 32.

State liquor laws, including licensing requirements, are applicable to liquor establishments owned or operated by either tribe members or non-Indians, and located on Indian reservations. Any license issued counts toward the local quota. 75 Atty. Gen. 123.

Indian tribes are within the coverage of this chapter; any license issued to a tribe counts toward the local quota. 76 Atty. Gen. 80.