SB 78 AM - ALCOHOL SALES IN HOTEL ROOMS The next order of business was SB 78 am. SENATOR BERT SHARP, ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE, PRIME SPONSOR, stated that tourists, especially European and Japanese travelers, feel that this is an amenity that they want in hotel rooms. This bill seeks to authorize the Alaska Beverage Control (ABC) Board to allow beverage dispensary license holders the right to allow self serve liquor sales in hotel and motel rooms. He said that the current plan is to allow alcoholic beverages to be stocked in lockable refrigerators placed in the rooms. Once the hotel or motel staff has determined the registered guest to be at least 21 years of age, a key to the locked unit can be obtained along with the room key. He stated that the bill has been introduced at the urging of many hotel and motel operators, as well as the Alaska Hotel and Motel Association, the Alaska Cabaret Hotel Restaurant and Retailers Association, and others. He pointed out that the Seventeenth Alaska Legislature had passed SB 183, which was an identical bill, but that Governor Hickel had vetoed it. He stated there is a zero fiscal note and that the director of the ABC Board, Pat Sharrock, had furnished a letter stating, "because the bill retains the provision that the board must authorize stocking of alcohol beverages in hotel rooms and the board may provide for permit for stocking by regulation, the board does not object to the proposed amendment to the current statutes which this bill encompasses." He read a portion of a letter from Frank Rose of North American Asset Management which stated, "I believe that it's important legislation for the hospitality business. It allows a service to be provided that many facilities outside Alaska provide to vacation and business travelers. In fact, it has become an expected amenity. The new mini bar systems have a number of features that allow for control, such as the time of use, automatic inventory, special key systems, et cetera. Additionally, statistics show that the primary use of the mini bar is for dispensing snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, but the alcoholic beverage sales are important because they make the system profitable." Number 175 CHAIRMAN KOTT pointed out the differences between SB 78 and HB 162. He said that SB 78 contains the requirement that the person stocking the alcoholic beverages be at least 21 years of age and can only take place during certain hours. He stated that it also contains provision that the key cannot be removable from the unit's lock unless the unit is in fact locked. SB 78 further makes the provision for the ABC Board to issue permits for the dispensary service, and by regulation, set the fee for the administrative cost. He stated that it deletes the provisions of minimum rooms. CHAIRMAN KOTT asked if the refrigerated unit, using a key or combination lock system within the guest room, is included in those systems that are electronically controlled by the front desk. SENATOR SHARP responded that was correct. REPRESENTATIVE NORMAN ROKEBERG made a motion to move SB 78 am, out of the House Labor and Commerce Committee, with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes. CHAIRMAN KOTT asked if there were any objections. Hearing none, the motion passed.