C.R.S. Section 44-3-409
Retail liquor store license

  • rules

(1)(a)(I) A retail liquor store license shall be issued to persons selling only malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors in sealed containers not to be consumed at the place where sold. Malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors in sealed containers shall not be sold at retail other than in retail liquor stores except as provided in section 44-3-410 or except as allowed under this article 3.

(II)

On and after July 1, 2016, the state and local licensing authorities shall not issue a new retail liquor store license if the premises for which the retail liquor store license is sought is located:

(A)

Within one thousand five hundred feet of another retail liquor store licensed under this section or a liquor-licensed drugstore licensed under section 44-3-410;

(B)

For a premises located in a municipality with a population of ten thousand or fewer, within three thousand feet of another retail liquor store licensed under this section or a liquor-licensed drugstore licensed under section 44-3-410; or

(C)

For a premises located in a municipality with a population of ten thousand or fewer that is contiguous to the city and county of Denver, within one thousand five hundred feet of another retail liquor store licensed under this section or a liquor-licensed drugstore licensed under section 44-3-410.

(b)

In addition, retail liquor stores may sell any nonalcohol products, but only if the annual gross revenues from the sale of nonalcohol products do not exceed twenty percent of the retail liquor store’s total annual gross sales revenues. For purposes of calculating the annual gross revenues from the sale of nonalcohol products, sales revenues from the following products are excluded:

(I)

Lottery products;

(II)

Cigarettes, tobacco products, and nicotine products, as defined in section 18-13-121 (5);

(III)

Ice, soft drinks, and mixers; and

(IV)

Nonfood items related to the consumption of malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors.

(c)

Nothing in this section or in section 44-3-103 (48) prohibits a licensed retail liquor store from:

(I)

Selling items on behalf of or to benefit a charitable organization, as defined in section 39-26-102, or a nonprofit corporation subject to the “Colorado Revised Nonprofit Corporation Act”, articles 121 to 137 of title 7, and determined to be exempt from federal income tax by the federal internal revenue service, if the retail liquor store does not receive compensation for the sale;

(II)

At the option of the licensee, displaying promotional material furnished by a manufacturer or wholesaler, which material permits a customer to purchase other items from a third person, so long as the retail liquor store licensee does not receive payment from the third person and the customer orders the additional merchandise directly from the third person; or

(III)

Allowing tastings to be conducted on the licensed premises if the licensee has received authorization to conduct tastings pursuant to section 44-3-301.

(2)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

A person licensed under this section to sell malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors in a retail liquor store:

(I)

Shall purchase the malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors only from a wholesaler licensed pursuant to this article 3; and

(II)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(A)

Shall not sell malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors to consumers at a price that is below the retail liquor store’s cost, as listed on the invoice, to purchase the malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors, unless the sale is of discontinued or close-out malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors.

(B)

This subsection (2)(a)(II) does not prohibit a retail liquor store from operating a bona fide loyalty or rewards program for malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors so long as the price for the product is not below the retail liquor store’s costs as listed on the invoice. The state licensing authority may adopt rules to implement this subsection (2)(a)(II).

(b)

A person licensed under this section that obtains additional retail liquor store licenses in accordance with subsection (4)(b)(III) of this section may operate under a single or consolidated corporate entity but shall not commingle purchases of or credit extensions for purchases of malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors from a wholesaler licensed under this article 3 for more than one licensed premises. A wholesaler licensed under this article 3 shall not base the price for the malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors it sells to a retail liquor store licensed under this section on the total volume of malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors that the licensee purchases for multiple licensed premises.

(3)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

A person licensed to sell at retail who complies with this subsection (3) and rules promulgated pursuant to this subsection (3) may deliver malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors to a person of legal age if:

(I)

The person receiving the delivery of malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors is located at a place that is not licensed pursuant to this section;

(II)

The delivery is made by an employee of the licensed retail liquor store who is at least twenty-one years of age and who is using a vehicle owned or leased by the licensee to make the delivery;

(III)

The person making the delivery verifies, in accordance with section 44-3-901 (11), that the person receiving the delivery of malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors is at least twenty-one years of age; and

(IV)

The retail liquor store derives no more than fifty percent of its gross annual revenues from total sales of malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors from the sale of malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors that the retail liquor store delivers.

(b)

The state licensing authority shall promulgate rules as necessary for the proper delivery of malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors and is authorized to issue a permit to any person who is licensed under this section to sell at retail and delivers the liquors pursuant to this subsection (3). A permit issued under this subsection (3) is subject to the same suspension and revocation provisions as are set forth in section 44-3-601 for other licenses granted pursuant to this article 3.

(4)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

Except as provided in subsection (4)(b) of this section, it is unlawful for any owner, part owner, shareholder, or person interested directly or indirectly in a retail liquor store to conduct, own either in whole or in part, or be directly or indirectly interested in any other business licensed pursuant to this article 3.

(b)

An owner, part owner, shareholder, or person interested directly or indirectly in a retail liquor store may have an interest in:

(I)

An arts license granted under this article 3;

(II)

An airline public transportation system license granted under this article 3;

(III)

For a retail liquor store licensed on or before January 1, 2016, and whose license holder is a Colorado resident, additional retail liquor store licenses as follows, but only if the premises for which a license is sought satisfies the distance requirements specified in subsection (1)(a)(II) of this section:

(A)

On or after January 1, 2017, and before January 1, 2022, one additional retail liquor store license, for a maximum of up to two total retail liquor store licenses;

(B)

On or after January 1, 2022, and before January 1, 2027, up to two additional retail liquor store licenses, for a maximum of three total retail liquor store licenses; and

(C)

On or after January 1, 2027, up to three additional retail liquor store licenses, for a maximum of four total retail liquor store licenses; or

(IV)

A financial institution referred to in section 44-3-308 (4).

(5)

A liquor-licensed drugstore may apply to the state and local licensing authorities, as part of a single application, for a merger and conversion of retail liquor store licenses to a single liquor-licensed drugstore license as provided in section 44-3-410 (1)(b).

Source: Section 44-3-409 — Retail liquor store license - rules, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-44.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

44‑3‑101
Short title
44‑3‑102
Legislative declaration
44‑3‑103
Definitions
44‑3‑104
Wine shipments - permits
44‑3‑105
Local option
44‑3‑106
Exemptions
44‑3‑107
Permitted acts - auctions at special events - definition
44‑3‑201
State licensing authority - creation
44‑3‑202
Duties of state licensing authority
44‑3‑203
Performance of duties
44‑3‑301
Licensing in general
44‑3‑302
License renewal - rules
44‑3‑303
Transfer of ownership and temporary permits
44‑3‑304
State licensing authority - application and issuance procedures - definitions - rules
44‑3‑305
Denial of application
44‑3‑306
Inactive licenses
44‑3‑307
Persons prohibited as licensees - definition
44‑3‑308
Unlawful financial assistance
44‑3‑309
Local licensing authority - applications - optional premises licenses
44‑3‑310
Optional premises license - local option
44‑3‑311
Public notice - posting and publication - definition
44‑3‑312
Results of investigation - decision of authorities
44‑3‑313
Restrictions for applications for new license
44‑3‑401
Classes of licenses and permits - rules
44‑3‑402
Manufacturer’s license
44‑3‑403
Limited winery license - rules
44‑3‑404
Festival permit - rules
44‑3‑405
Importer’s license
44‑3‑406
Nonresident manufacturers and importers of malt liquor
44‑3‑407
Wholesaler’s license - discrimination in wholesale sales prohibited
44‑3‑408
Termination of wholesalers - remedies - definitions
44‑3‑409
Retail liquor store license - rules
44‑3‑410
Liquor-licensed drugstore license - multiple licenses permitted - requirements - rules
44‑3‑411
Beer and wine license
44‑3‑412
Bed and breakfast permit
44‑3‑413
Hotel and restaurant license - definitions - rules
44‑3‑414
Tavern license
44‑3‑415
Optional premises license
44‑3‑416
Retail gaming tavern license
44‑3‑417
Brew pub license - definitions
44‑3‑418
Club license - legislative declaration
44‑3‑419
Arts license - definition
44‑3‑420
Racetrack license
44‑3‑421
Public transportation system license
44‑3‑422
Vintner’s restaurant license
44‑3‑423
Removal of vinous liquor from licensed premises
44‑3‑424
Retail establishment permit - definitions
44‑3‑425
Wine packaging permit - limitations - rules
44‑3‑426
Distillery pub license - legislative declaration - definition
44‑3‑427
Liquor-licensed drugstore manager’s permit
44‑3‑428
Lodging and entertainment license
44‑3‑429
Purchasing alcohol from a surrendered license of common ownership - definition
44‑3‑501
State fees - rules
44‑3‑502
Fees and taxes - allocation
44‑3‑503
Excise tax - records - rules - definition
44‑3‑504
Lien to secure payment of taxes - exemptions - recovery
44‑3‑505
Local license fees
44‑3‑601
Suspension - revocation - fines - rules
44‑3‑701
Inspection procedures
44‑3‑801
Civil liability - legislative declaration - definitions
44‑3‑802
Judicial review
44‑3‑901
Unlawful acts - exceptions - definitions
44‑3‑902
Testing for intoxication by law enforcement officers - when prohibited
44‑3‑903
Alcohol-without-liquid devices - legislative declaration - definition - unlawful acts
44‑3‑904
Violations - penalties
44‑3‑905
Duties of inspectors and police officers
44‑3‑906
Warrants - searches and seizures
44‑3‑907
Return on warrant - sale of liquor seized
44‑3‑908
Loss of property rights
44‑3‑909
Colorado state fair - common consumption area - national western center - consumption on premises
44‑3‑910
Common consumption areas
44‑3‑911
Takeout and delivery of alcohol beverages - permit - on-premises consumption licenses - requirements and limitations - rules - definition - repeal
44‑3‑912
Communal outdoor dining areas - permit required - rules
44‑3‑1001
Short title
44‑3‑1002
Responsible vendors - standards
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 44-3-409’s source at colorado​.gov