§ 178:27-b — Direct to Consumer Shipments of Alcohol to New Hampshire Residents

New Hampshire § 178:27-b

• Jurisdiction: New Hampshire
• Title XIII: ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
• Ch. 178: LIQUOR LICENSES AND FEES

Text

I. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any business licensed under this chapter as a beverage manufacturer, brew pub, wine manufacturer, liquor manufacturer or beverage distributor may apply for a direct to consumer shipping permit from the commission. The permit shall authorize the holder to sell and deliver alcoholic beverages to consumers 21 years of age or older located within the state of New Hampshire and businesses licensed by the commission for on-sale and off-sale of alcoholic beverages. The permit shall also authorize the licensee to deliver alcohol manufactured or distributed under their license to consumers 21 years of age or older residing in New Hampshire by means of vehicles registered to the New Hampshire licensee and holding a carrier license under RSA 178:14. There shall be no fee to obtain a shipping permit under this section. Nothing in this paragraph shall relieve the licensee of their obligation to comply with the record keeping and reporting requirements of this section when shipping products directly to legal age New Hampshire consumers by means of a third party holding a carrier license under RSA 178:14. Direct to consumer permittees or carriers shall not ship into areas of the state where alcoholic beverages may not be lawfully sold. Shipments of any other products shall be considered unlicensed shipments under the provisions of RSA 178:1, I.
(b) Any individual engaged in the delivery of alcoholic beverages pursuant to this section shall be an employee who regularly receives a W-2 from the licensee and is at least 21 years of age. During deliveries conducted under this section, the person making the delivery shall obtain a signed receipt from the consumer. Consumers who appear visibly intoxicated or who a reasonable and prudent person would know are intoxicated, who do not produce identification verifying the consumer's age, or who fail to sign a receipt shall not be entitled to his or her delivery of alcoholic beverages.
(c) No holder of a direct to consumer shipping permit shall deliver any alcoholic beverages to any college, university, or school, whether public or private, located within the state. No holder of a direct to consumer shipping permit shall deliver any alcoholic beverages to any public library, public playground, or public park.
II. Violations of this section shall be subject to the penalties contained in RSA 179:58.

Legislative History

2021, 180:5, eff. July 1, 2021. 2022, 254:5, eff. July 1, 2022. 2023, 86:6, eff. Aug. 19, 2023. 2024, 381:4, eff. July 1, 2024.