Conn. Gen. Stat. § 30-1

Current with legislation from the 2023 Regular and Special Sessions.

Section 30-1 - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter, unless the context indicates a different meaning:

(1) "Airline" means any (A) United States airline carrier holding a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Civil Aeronautics Board under Section 401 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, as amended from time to time, or (B) foreign flag carrier holding a permit under Section 402 of said act.

(2) "Alcohol" (A) means the product of distillation of any fermented liquid that is rectified at least once and regardless of such liquid's origin, and (B) includes synthetic ethyl alcohol which is considered nonpotable.

(3) "Alcoholic beverage" and "alcoholic liquor" include the four varieties of liquor defined in subdivisions (2), (5), (20) and (21) of this section (alcohol, beer, spirits and wine) and every liquid or solid, patented or unpatented, containing alcohol, beer, spirits or wine and at least one-half of one per cent alcohol by volume, and capable of being consumed by a human being as a beverage. Any liquid or solid containing more than one of the four varieties so defined belongs to the variety which has the highest percentage of alcohol according to the following order: Alcohol, spirits, wine and beer, except as provided in subdivision (21) of this section.

(4) "Backer" means, except in cases where the permittee is the proprietor, the proprietor of any business or club, incorporated or unincorporated, that is engaged in manufacturing or selling alcoholic liquor and in which business a permittee is associated, whether as an agent, employee or part owner.

(5) "Beer" means any beverage obtained by the alcoholic fermentation of a decoction or infusion of barley, hops and malt in drinking water.

(6) "Boat" means any vessel that is (A) operating on any waterway of this state, and (B) engaged in transporting passengers for hire to or from any port of this state.

(7) "Case price" means the price of a container made of cardboard, wood or any other material and containing units of the same class and size of alcoholic liquor. A case of alcoholic liquor, other than beer, cocktails, cordials, prepared mixed drinks and wines, shall be in the quantity and number, or fewer, with the permission of the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, of bottles or units as follows:

(A) Six one thousand seven hundred fifty milliliter bottles,

(B) six one thousand eight hundred milliliter bottles,

(C) twelve seven hundred milliliter bottles,

(D) twelve seven hundred twenty milliliter bottles,

(E) twelve seven hundred fifty milliliter bottles,

(F) twelve nine hundred milliliter bottles,

(G) twelve one liter bottles,

(H) twenty-four three hundred seventy-five milliliter bottles,

(I) forty-eight two hundred milliliter bottles,

(J) sixty one hundred milliliter bottles, or

(K) one hundred twenty fifty milliliter bottles, except a case of fifty milliliter bottles may be in a quantity and number as originally configured, packaged and sold by the manufacturer or out-of-state shipper prior to shipment if the number of such bottles in such case is not greater than two hundred. The commissioner shall not authorize fewer quantities or numbers of bottles or units as specified in this subdivision for any one person or entity more than eight times in any calendar year. For the purposes of this subdivision, "class" has the same meaning as provided in 27 CFR 4.21 for wine, 27 CFR 5.22 for spirits and 27 CFR 7.24 for beer.

(8) "Club" has the same meaning as provided in section 30-22aa.

(9) "Coliseum" has the same meaning as provided in section 30-33a.

(10) "Commission" means the Liquor Control Commission established under this chapter.

(11) "Department" means the Department of Consumer Protection.

(12) "Dining room" means any room or rooms (A) located in premises operating under (i) a hotel permit issued under section 30-21, (ii) a restaurant permit issued under subsection (a) of section 30-22, (iii) a restaurant permit for wine and beer issued under subsection (b) of section 30-22, or (iv) a cafe permit issued under section 30-22a, and (B) where meals are customarily served to any member of the public who has means of payment and a proper demeanor.

(13) "Mead" means fermented honey (A) with or without additions or adjunct ingredients, and (B) regardless of (i) alcohol content, (ii) process, and (iii) whether such honey is carbonated, sparkling or still.

(14) "Minor" means any person who is younger than twenty-one years of age.

(15) "Noncommercial entity" means an academic institution, charitable organization, government organization, nonprofit organization or similar entity that is not primarily dedicated to obtaining a commercial advantage or monetary compensation.

(16) "Nonprofit club" has the same meaning as provided in section 30-22aa.

(17)

(A) "Person" means an individual, including, but not limited to, a partner.

(B) "Person" does not include a corporation, joint stock company, limited liability company or other association of individuals.

(18)

(A) "Proprietor" includes all owners of a business or club, incorporated or unincorporated, that is engaged in manufacturing or selling alcoholic liquor, whether such owners are persons, fiduciaries, joint stock companies, stockholders of corporations or otherwise.

(B) "Proprietor" does not include any person who, or corporation that, is merely a creditor, whether as a bond holder, franchisor, landlord or note holder, of a business or club, incorporated or unincorporated, that is engaged in manufacturing or selling alcoholic liquor.

(19) "Restaurant" has the same meaning as provided in section 30-22.

(20) "Spirits" means any beverage that contains alcohol obtained by distillation mixed with drinkable water and other substances in solution, including brandy, rum, whiskey and gin.

(21) "Wine" means any alcoholic beverage obtained by fermenting the natural sugar content of fruits, such as apples, grapes or other agricultural products, containing such sugar, including fortified wines such as port, sherry and champagne.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 30-1

(1949 Rev., S. 4222; 1951, 1953, S. 2148d; 1957, P.A. 267, S. 1; 617, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 590; 1961, P.A. 292; 1963, P.A. 274, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 512; 553, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 365, S. 1; 725, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 135, S. 1; 724, S. 1; 739; 1971, P.A. 254, S. 1; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 57; P.A. 73-222; 73-533, S. 1; 73-543, S. 1; 73-563, S. 1; P.A. 74-307, S. 1; P.A. 75-259, S. 1, 8; 75-641, S. 1; P.A. 77-614, S. 165, 587, 610; P.A. 78-80, S. 1, 4; 78-82, S. 2; 78-202, S. 1, 2, 5; 78-294, S. 1, 5; 78-303, S. 80, 85, 136; P.A. 79-404, S. 38, 45; P.A. 80-198, S. 2; 80-482, S. 4, 170, 189, 191, 345, 348; P.A. 81-287, S. 1; 81-294, S. 6, 22; P.A. 82-68, S. 1, 11; 82-299, S. 1, 6; P.A. 83-152, S. 2; 83-508, S. 2; P.A. 85-264, S. 1, 4; 85-613, S. 82, 154; P.A. 89-181, S. 1, 6; P.A. 90-72, S. 1; 90-271, S. 18, 24; P.A. 91-118 , S. 1 ; P.A. 93-139 , S. 1 ; 93-326 , S. 2 ; P.A. 95-79 , S. 105 , 189 ; 95-195 , S. 11 , 83 ; P.A. 03-235 , S. 4 ; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146 (d); P.A. 04-169 , S. 17 ; 04-189 , S. 1 ; P.A. 05-288 , S. 132 ; P.A. 06-94 , S. 1 ; P.A. 16-18 , S. 1 .)

Amended by P.A. 23-0050, S. 2 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2023 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2023.

Amended by P.A. 23-0050, S. 1 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2023 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2023.

Amended by P.A. 22-0104, S. 1 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2022 Regular Session, eff. 5/24/2022.

Amended by P.A. 21-0037, S. 54 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2021 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2021.

Amended by P.A. 21-0010, S. 6 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2021 Regular Session, eff. 5/13/2021.

Amended by P.A. 19-0024, S. 3 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2019 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2020.

Amended by P.A. 19-0024, S. 2 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2019 Regular Session, eff. 6/5/2019.

Amended by P.A. 16-0018, S. 1 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2016 Regular Session, eff. 5/6/2016.

The following cases decided prior to enactment of the Liquor Control Act of 1933: Complaint charging sale of "spirituous liquor, to wit: beer," sufficient. 51 C. 1 . Spirituous and intoxicating liquors include medicines prepared and sold by a druggist, of which a part is spirituous liquor. 61 C. 39 . When lease contained provision that rental should be reduced one-half in case city wherein premises leased were located "should go no license", passage of Volstead act operated to reduce rental one-half. 98 C. 751. Partially denatured alcohol readily made fit for beverage purposes held to be intoxicating liquor; any liquor specifically mentioned in former section or declared intoxicating by United States laws is intoxicating liquor; whether or not liquor is fit for beverage purposes is for the jury. 100 C. 645 . Only such parts of statute defining intoxicating liquors as are relevant need be covered in charge. 102 C. 636 . The following cases decided subsequent to enactment of Liquor Control Act: The definitions given of "alcohol", "beer", etc. are sufficiently broad to include medicinal compounds containing alcohol. 118 C. 252 . It is not necessary that proof of alcoholic content in a given case be established only by an expert. 119 C. 439 . Defendant not harmed by court's statement that it was undisputed that beer was "alcoholic liquor". 120 C. 43 . Under former statute, "regularly served" meals are meals served during hours restaurants are usually open; however, there must be a bona fide restaurant business. 121 C. 446 . Whether or not place of business conformed to statutory definition is a question of fact. Id., 695. Commission did not abuse its discretion in refusing permits on ground restaurant business not bona fide. 123 C. 318. Cited. 124 C. 690 . Action of commission must be tested by condition of club's premises at time of the hearing. 125 C. 106 . A change from unincorporated to incorporated form not material to continuous existence of a club. Id., 108. Service of hot meals insufficient to afford assurance of bona fide restaurant business. 128 C. 115 . Cited. 132 C. 665 ; 133 C. 151 . Mere possession of supply of food sufficient to offer limited number and variety of meals would not make premises restaurant if there were so few food patrons or their demands for food were so insignificant that service of hot meals was not a regular part of permittee's business. 149 C. 511 . Cited. 158 C. 362 ; 160 C. 4 . An association operating under a club liquor permit which terminated the voting rights of its members and made its board of governors self-perpetuating does not come within the statutory definition of "club" as defined in the Liquor Control Act. 166 C. 97 . Cited. 191 C. 528 ; 195 C. 18 ; 207 C. 88 ; 236 C. 670 . Discussed. 5 CS 234 . Statutory requirements to be a club reviewed. 16 CS 60 . Word "person" interpreted to allow a corporation to be eligible for a liquor permit. 18 CS 273 . History of section reviewed. 20 CS 256. Cited. 22 CS 354 . "Owner" means all persons who have combined in them both the title to and right of possession of the business and the owner shall be responsible for the conduct of the business; management does not mean ownership. Id., 420. Cited. 23 CS 281 ; Id., 474; 36 CS 305 . Purpose of act was to redefine and extend privilege of acquiring a grocery store beer permit to stores other than grocery stores; not determinative as to whether supermarket is grocery store for purposes of Sec. 53-290 . 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 682. Cited. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 170. Chemical analysis is not only method by which jury may determine that beer sold to minor is alcoholic beverage within prohibition of statute; common knowledge of well-known and nationally advertised brands may establish fact for jury. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 373.