103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB2000

 

Introduced 2/9/2023, by Sen. Cristina Castro

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
235 ILCS 5/6-40 new

    Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that an off-premises retail licensee or a person in the business of manufacturing, importing, or distributing alcoholic liquors directly or indirectly offering or providing coupons to consumers that are redeemable by the person offering the coupon or third-party agent does not constitute a violation under the Act if specified conditions are met. Provides that any person who funds, offers, or redeems coupons shall maintain complete, accurate, and itemized records of reimbursements. Provides that the person offering a coupon shall provide notice of the coupon with specified information at least 7 days prior to the issuance of the coupon on the licensee's publicly available website or social media pages and, in the case of an off-premises retailer offering the coupon, conspicuously on its licensed premises.


LRB103 28059 RPS 54438 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2000LRB103 28059 RPS 54438 b

1    AN ACT concerning liquor.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Liquor Control Act of 1934 is amended by
5adding Section 6-40 as follows:
 
6    (235 ILCS 5/6-40 new)
7    Sec. 6-40. Coupons.
8    (a) For the purposes of this Section, "coupon" means any
9method, including, but not limited to, paper, digital,
10electronic, online mobile application, or similar format, by
11which a consumer receives a discount in connection with the
12purchase of an alcoholic liquor product with such purchase
13funded, produced, sponsored, promoted, or furnished, either
14directly or indirectly, by a person in the business of
15manufacturing, importing, or distributing alcoholic liquors or
16by an off-premise retail licensee and no other person and
17redeemed directly or indirectly by the person offering the
18coupon or a third-party agent.
19    (b) An off-premises retail licensee or a person in the
20business of manufacturing, importing, or distributing
21alcoholic liquors directly or indirectly offering or providing
22a coupon to consumers that is redeemable by the person
23offering the coupon or third-party agent does not constitute a

 

 

SB2000- 2 -LRB103 28059 RPS 54438 b

1violation under this Act if the following conditions are met:
2        (1) The person offers the coupon directly to a
3    consumer. A manufacturer that imports or distributes
4    alcoholic liquors shall not directly or indirectly
5    reimburse a retailer for a coupon.
6        (2) The person offering the coupon does not offer any
7    coupon that makes any alcoholic liquor free of charge.
8        (3) The person offering a coupon directly or
9    indirectly to a consumer is the sole person, or its
10    third-party agent, who redeems the coupon. The person
11    offering the coupon, or its third-party agent, shall not
12    redeem a coupon by any consumer below the age of 21.
13        (4) The coupon provided by the person in the business
14    of manufacturing, importing, or distributing alcoholic
15    liquors does not identify the name or brand of a retail
16    licensee.
17        (5) A person in the business of manufacturing,
18    importing, or distributing alcoholic liquors does not
19    offer a coupon that is redeemable for retailer branded or
20    retailer private label products. A retail licensee may
21    offer a coupon for a retailer branded or retailer private
22    label product.
23        (6) The coupon contains an expiration date. A person
24    offering a coupon shall not reimburse a consumer beyond
25    the expiration date.
26        (7) A person in the business of manufacturing,

 

 

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1    importing, or distributing alcoholic liquors does not
2    require a retailer to accept coupons. A retailer shall not
3    accept any reimbursement for a coupon issued by any other
4    person.
5        (8) A retailer does not require a person in the
6    business of manufacturing, importing, or distributing
7    alcoholic liquors to offer coupons.
8        (9) A person offering a coupon provides the full
9    amount of the discount to the consumer.
10        (10) A distributor is not required to disseminate any
11    coupons on the behalf of a person offering a coupon.
12        (11) Printed or paper coupons are not offered or
13    provided anywhere on the premises of a retailer or placed
14    upon any alcoholic product.
15        (12) The coupon does not provide a full or partial
16    discount for the purchase of alcoholic liquor that would
17    apply to a separate alcoholic liquor that is not
18    manufactured or owned by the same alcoholic manufacturer.
19    (c) A retailer may offer a coupon as part of a retailer
20loyalty program or awards program.
21    (d) A coupon for alcohol liquor may include nonalcoholic
22products as long as the discount applies solely to a
23nonalcoholic product that is not a retailer branded or private
24label product.
25    (e) A coupon may be promoted, provided, furnished, or
26fulfilled through a third-party agent acting on behalf of a

 

 

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1person offering the coupon. Any act or omission of a
2third-party agent related to coupons or consumer promotion is
3the act or omission of the licensee.
4    (f) Any person who funds, offers, or redeems coupons shall
5maintain complete, accurate, and itemized records of
6reimbursements. All records of reimbursement, including any
7supporting documentation, including, but not limited to,
8consumer promotions, purchase invoices, sales receipts, or
9similar documentation shall be maintained by the licensee
10offering a coupon for a period of no less than 3 years after
11the reimbursement. A licensee shall make records of
12reimbursements and supporting documentation available upon
13reasonable notice for the purpose of investigation by the
14State Commission. The records may be kept in an electronic or
15digital format.
16    (g) The person offering a coupon shall provide notice of
17the coupon at least 7 days prior to the issuance of the coupon
18on the licensee's publicly available website or social media
19pages and, in the case of an off-premises retailer offering
20the coupon, conspicuously on its licensed premises. The notice
21shall include the following:
22        (1) the person offering the coupon;
23        (2) the exact product or products and size or sizes of
24    the product or products and the rebate amount for the
25    coupon; and
26        (3) the beginning and end date of the coupon offered.