In the final hours of this year’s legislative session, lawmakers passed a bill banning powdered alcohol and legalizing the serving of multiple small samples of alcoholic beverages.
The bill has special significance to Sen. Kevin Mullin, R-Rutland, because the late Sen. Sally Fox, D-Chittenden, filed the bill.
“(Her husband) Michael (Sirotkin) and I have a date to have a flight of beer in her honor as soon as the governor signs the bill,” Mullin said. Sirotkin was appointed to Fox’s seat after she died of cancer this year.
Sampler flights, several drinks served together for tasting purposes, are sold at bars, restaurants and breweries around Vermont, but are not technically legal.
The bill also includes a ban on powdered alcohol, a product not approved for sale in the U.S.
In a conference committee, senators convinced House lawmakers to remove a last-minute addition banning the sale of lottery games in bars and restaurants.
Senators agreed gambling is a problem but Mullin said simply banning lottery sales in bars and restaurants would give an unfair advantage to break-open tickets, which are not taxed or regulated by the state.
“To just ban lottery products from ever being sold there wasn’t something we were going to do,” Mullin said.
An earlier version of the bill considered by the conference committee contained a study about problem gambling but the House took it out during conference committee. The Senate did not object.
The bill also allows restaurants, before they have their full liquor license, to conduct tastings.
