South Carolina 126th General Assembly Status: Introduced

S 1001 — A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 61-2-400 SO AS TO DEFINE "ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES", "ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS BY THE DRINK", "CATERER", "PRIVATE EVENT", AND "COMMERCIAL KITCHEN"; BY ADDING SECTION 61-2-410 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO ISSUE A RETAIL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CATERER LICENSE AND PROVIDE FOR THE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS; AND WHICH LICENSE WOULD ALLOW THE LICENSEE TO SERVE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES FOR ON-PREMISES CONSUMPTION, PURCHASE BEER AND WINE DIRECTLY FROM A WHOLESALER, AND PURCHASE ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR DIRECTLY FROM A LIQUOR STORE; AND WHICH LICENSE WOULD ALLOW THE TRANSFER OF THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES FROM THE WHOLESALER TO THE CATERER AND FROM THE CATERER TO THE LOCATION OF THE PRIVATE EVENT, AND WOULD ALLOW A WHOLESALER AND RETAIL LIQUOR STORE WITH A WHOLESALER'S PERMIT TO TAKE LIQUOR AND OFFER A REFUND OR CREDIT; AND TO PROVIDE FOR OTHER REQUIREMENTS; BY ADDING SECTION 61-2-420 SO AS TO ALLOW THE HOLDER OF A VALID RETAIL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CATERER LICENSE OR BUSINESS LIQUOR-BY-THE-DRINK LICENSE TO CONTRACT WITH AN EVENT HOST TO PROVIDE FOR ON-PREMISES CONSUMPTION, AND THE EVENT HOST IS ALLOWED TO CHARGE AN ENTRY FEE TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE EVENT; BY AMENDING SECTION 61-4-160, RELATING TO DISCOUNT PRICING FOR ON-PREMISES CONSUMPTION, SO AS TO ALLOW A BIENNIAL PERMIT HOLDER FOR THE SALE OF BEER OR WINE FOR ON-PREMISES CONSUMPTION TO SPONSOR TWELVE FUNCTIONS PER YEAR WHERE BEVERAGES ARE FREE DURING A FUND-RAISING ACTIVITY, PRIVATE FUNCTION ON PREMISES FOR WHICH A BIENNIAL PERMIT HAS BEEN ISSUED, OR TO A CUSTOMER ATTENDING A FUNCTION SPONSORED BY A PERSON WHO HOLDS A BIENNIAL PERMIT; BY AMENDING SECTION 61-6-2000, RELATING TO TEMPORARY PERMITS FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS; CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS, SO AS TO ALLOW ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR TEMPORARY PERMITS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS TO BE ISSUED TO A CATERER WITH A VALID CATERER LICENSE, A FOOD ESTABLISHMENT SERVICE, OR A NONPROFIT, AND THE PERMIT HOLDER MAY SELL TICKETS TO THE EVENT; AND TO ESTABLISH THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REQUIRE THE APPLICANT TO COMPLETE THE NOTIFICATION PROVISION IN THE APPLICATION FORM, AND TO INCLUDE THAT THE APPLICANT SHALL NOTIFY THE DIVISION THAT ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS WILL BE SERVED AT LEAST TWENTY-FOUR HOURS PRIOR TO THE SPECIAL EVENT; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 61-4-550, RELATING TO SPECIAL PERMITS FOR USE AT FAIRS AND SPECIAL FUNCTIONS, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.

Last action — Scrivener's error corrected

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  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced March 10, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Prognosis

Stalled 0% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • Introduced

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 4 sponsors

    1 primary, 3 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Failed a recorded vote

    Failed 1 recorded vote so far — a real headwind.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

The bill creates a licensing system for catering alcoholic beverages at private events in South Carolina.

This bill allows the South Carolina Department of Revenue to issue a Retail Alcoholic Beverage Caterer License, enabling caterers to provide alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption at private events. It sets regulations for the purchase and transfer of alcohol and the payment for such services at events.

What this means for you
  • Workers: Catering workers may have new job opportunities in events that serve alcohol under this licensing system.
  • Families: Families hosting private events can have more options for catering services that include alcoholic beverages.
  • Small Business: This means small catering businesses can expand their services by legally serving alcohol at private events.

Summary

Retail Alcoholic Beverage Caterer License

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

12 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes a Retail Alcoholic Beverage Caterer License, allowing caterers to serve alcoholic beverages at private events and sets specific licensing requirements and definitions related to alcoholic beverage service.

  • Section 61-2-400

    "Alcoholic beverages", "alcoholic liquors by the drink", "caterer", "private event", and "commercial kitchen" are defined.

    This adds definitions essential for understanding the new licensing structure.

  • Section 61-2-410

    The department is authorized to issue a retail alcoholic beverage caterer license subject to the licensing requirements of Chapters 4 and 6 of Title 61.

    This allows the Department of Revenue to issue a new type of license for caterers.

  • Section 61-2-410(B)

    The retail alcoholic beverage caterer license shall allow the licensee to serve alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption in conjunction with food service by the caterer of prepared meals, purchase beer and wine directly from a wholesaler, purchase alcoholic liquor directly from a retail liquor store dealer, transfer alcoholic beverages, and store them before and during events.

    This enables caterers licensed under this new section to operate legally in serving alcohol.

  • Section 61-2-410(B)(3)

    The license allows purchasing alcoholic liquor directly from a retail liquor store dealer with a wholesaler's basic permit issued under Federal Alcohol Administration Act in any size except 1.75 liter bottles.

    This specifies the conditions under which caterers can purchase liquor, adding flexibility to their operations.

  • Section 61-2-410(C)

    A wholesaler or retail liquor store may offer credit for unused, unopened, and undamaged alcoholic beverages to a holder of a retail alcoholic beverage caterer license under specific conditions.

    This allows caterers to manage their stock better by offering credits for unsold alcohol.

  • Section 61-2-410(D)

    An employee of a caterer must be eighteen years of age to serve or deliver alcohol; bartenders must be twenty-one.

    This sets age restrictions for employees serving alcohol.

  • Section 61-2-410(E)

    The licensee, employee, or agent is prohibited from selling or permitting consumption of alcoholic liquor between 2 a.m. and 10 a.m. on premises of the event and their principal place of business.

    This restricts alcohol service to ensure compliance with time regulations.

  • Section 61-2-410(F)

    Licensees cannot sell or permit consumption of alcoholic beverages on Sunday unless allowed by local referendum.

    This aligns alcohol sale regulations with local governance.

  • Section 61-2-410(G)

    Caterers serving alcohol at events after 5 p.m. must maintain a liquor liability insurance policy.

    This increases safety measures and liability coverage for events.

  • Section 61-4-160

    "Biennial permit holder for the sale of beer or wine for on-premises consumption" → "allow a biennial permit holder for the sale of beer or wine for on-premises consumption to sponsor twelve functions per year where beverages are free during a fund-raising activity, private function on premises for which a biennial permit has been issued, or to a customer attending a function sponsored by a person who holds a biennial permit."

    This expands the capacity for biennial permit holders to host certain events with complimentary beverages.

  • Section 61-6-2000

    Temporary permits for special events may be issued to a caterer with a valid caterer license, allowing them to sell tickets to events.

    This provides a pathway for caterers to manage events that charge for attendance.

  • Section 61-4-550

    Conforming changes related to special permits for use at fairs and special functions are made necessary by the establishment of the new license.

    This ensures existing statutes are in line with the new licensing provisions.

Action History

  1. Scrivener's error corrected

  2. Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 66)

  3. Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 66)

  4. Read third time and sent to House (Senate Journal-page 74)

  5. Roll call Ayes-31 Nays-11 (Senate Journal-page 27)

  6. Read second time (Senate Journal-page 27)

  7. Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 27)

  8. Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 11)

  9. Scrivener's error corrected

  10. Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 10)

  11. Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 10)

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 3 co-sponsors · 166 not signed on · 11 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (3)

Not signed on (166)

166 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 166 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

2nd Reading

Failed 0 Yea · 11 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 01102
Total 01102
% of votes cast 0%85%0%15%
How each member voted (13)
Member Party Vote
Senator A. Shane Massey — Nay
Senator Allen Blackmon — Nay
Senator Billy Garrett — Nay
Senator Carlisle Kennedy — Nay
Senator Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III — Nay
Senator Greg Hembree — Not Voting
Senator JD Chaplin — Nay
Senator Lee Bright — Nay
Senator Matthew W. "Matt" Leber — Nay
Senator Michael W. Gambrell — Not Voting
Senator Rex F. Rice — Nay
Senator Richard J. Cash — Nay
Senator Tom Fernandez — Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety taxation
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does S 1001 do?
Retail Alcoholic Beverage Caterer License
Who sponsors S 1001?
S 1001 is sponsored by Senator Josh Kimbrell, Senator Deon T. Tedder, Senator Luke A. Rankin, and Senator Greg Hembree.
What is the current status of S 1001?
This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced March 10, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track S 1001?
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