What's happening
This bill expands the legal definition of "cider" to include the partially or fully fermented juice of fresh grapes.
Why it matters
Could change what products can be legally labeled and sold as “cider”. including grape-based ciders (currently, only apple and other pome fruit juices are covered), potentially impacting labeling, marketing, and product availability in stores and bars.
May expand opportunities for local grape growers and producers. by allowing them to enter the growing hard cider market without needing a separate wine license, possibly boosting agricultural and small business activity in grape-producing regions.
Could affect taxes, regulations, and consumer protections. related to cider versus wine—since cider and wine are often regulated and taxed differently, broadening the definition could shift how these grape-based beverages are handled under state law.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Include Grapes in Cider Definition
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to investigations and government operations
- Referred to investigations and government operations
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1208
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 11, 2019
Introduced by Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations
AN ACT to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to the definition of cider including the partially or fully fermented juice of fresh grapes
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The opening paragraph of paragraph (a) of subdivision 7-b of section 3 of the alcoholic beverage control law, as amended by chapter 384 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
"Cider" means the partially or fully fermented juice of fresh, whole apples or other pome fruits or grapes, containing more than three and two-tenths per centum but not more than eight and one-half per centum alcohol by volume:
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05047-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to the definition of cider including the partially or fully fermented juice of fresh grapes
Purpose
To create parity between beverages fermented from apples and other pome fruits and beverages fermented from fresh grapes in New York State.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends section 3 of the alcoholic beverage control law, to add partially or fully fermented juice from fresh grapes as part of the definition of cider.
Section 2 provides an immediate effective date.
Justification
When the farm cider legislation came into law in 2013, the definition of "cider" created inconsistency between the treatment of fermented juice from apples or other pome fruits and juice fermented from fresh grapes. The definition of cider sets the defined alcohol content to a higher acceptable percentage than that of fermented grape juice. This bill adds "grapes" to the definition of cider to establish parity between the two products.
Legislative history
2018: S.8735.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.