Class "B," class "C," special class "C," and class "E" retail alcohol licensees; special class "B" and special class "C" retail native wine licensees; and the licensee's employees may fill, refill, and sell wine or native wine in a container other than the original container, otherwise known as a growler, subject to the requirements and restrictions provided in Iowa Code sections 123.30, 123.31A, and 123.31B and in this rule.
(1)Definitions."Growler," for the purposes of this rule, means any fillable and sealable glass, ceramic, plastic, aluminum, or stainless steel container designed to hold wine or native wine.
"Native wine," for the purposes of this rule, means the same as defined in Iowa Code section 123.3(36).
"Original container," for the purposes of this rule, means a vessel containing wine or native wine that has been lawfully obtained and has been securely capped, sealed, or corked at the location of manufacture.
"Wine," for the purposes of this rule, means the same as defined in Iowa Code section 123.3(53).
(2)Filling and refilling requirements.a. A growler shall have the capacity to hold no more than 72 ounces.b. A growler shall be filled or refilled only by the licensee or the licensee's employees who are 18 years of age or older.c. A growler shall be filled or refilled only on demand by a consumer at the time of the sale.d. A growler shall be filled or refilled only with wine or native wine from the original container procured from a class "A" wine permittee.e. Special class "B" and special class "C" retail native wine licensees shall fill a growler with only native wine.f. A retailer may exchange a growler to be filled or refilled.g. The filling or refilling of a growler shall at all times be conducted in compliance with applicable state and federal food safety statutes and regulations.(3)Sealing requirements. A filled or refilled growler shall be securely sealed at the time of the sale by the licensee or the licensee's employees in the following manner: a. A growler shall bear a cap, lid, stopper, or plug.b. A plastic heat shrink wrap band, strip, or sleeve shall extend around the cap or lid or over the stopper or plug to form a seal that must be broken upon the opening of the growler. A lid permanently affixed with a can seamer shall not require a plastic heat shrink wrap band, strip, or sleeve.c. The heat shrink wrap seal shall be so secure that it is visibly apparent when the seal on a growler has been tampered with or a sealed growler has otherwise been reopened.d. A growler shall not be deemed an open container, subject to the requirements of Iowa Code sections 321.284 and 321.284A, provided the sealed growler is unopened and the seal has not been tampered with and the contents of the growler have not been partially removed.(4)Restrictions.a. A growler shall not be filled in advance of a sale.b. A growler filled pursuant to this rule shall not be delivered or direct-shipped to a consumer.c. A growler filled pursuant to this rule shall not be sold or otherwise distributed to a retailer.d. A licensee or a licensee's employees shall not allow a consumer to fill or refill a growler.e. The filling, refilling, and selling of a growler shall be limited to the hours in which alcoholic beverages may be legally sold.f. A filled or refilled growler shall not be sold to any consumer who is under legal age, intoxicated, or simulating intoxication.g. An original container shall only be opened on the premises of a class "B" and class "E" retail alcohol licensee for the limited purposes of filling or refilling a growler as provided in this rule, or for a tasting in accordance with rule 185-16.7 (123).(5)Violations. Failure to comply with the requirements and restrictions of this rule shall subject the licensee to the penalty provisions provided in Iowa Code chapter 123. This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 123.30, 123.31A, and 123.31B and section 123.31C as enacted by 2023 Iowa Acts, House File 677, section 5.
Iowa Admin. Code r. 185-4.11
Amended by IAB September 23, 2020/Volume XLIII, Number 7, effective 10/28/2020Amended by IAB September 20, 2023/Volume XLVI, Number 6, effective 10/25/2023