(a) For the purposes of this Section only, the following definitions shall be applicable:
(1) “Eligible grocery business” means an establishment whose sales of food are such that it is eligible to participate in the food stamp program established by the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-113; 91 Stat. 958.7 U.S.C. Section 2011 et seq.), according to regulations in effect on January 1, 1979. An establishment is deemed eligible to participate in the Food Stamp Program if it is authorized to participate in the program by the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service Field Office on the effective date of this Section, or if, prior to a reporting period for which the return is filed, such retailer proves to the satisfaction of the Tax Collector that the establishment, based on the nature of the retailer’s food sales, could be eligible to participate in the food stamp program established by the Food Stamp Act of 1977 according to regulations in effect on January 1, 1979.
(2) “Facilities for the consumption of food” means tables, chairs, benches, booths, stools, counters, and similar conveniences, trays, glasses, dishes, or other tableware and parking areas for the convenience of in-car consumption of food in or on the premises on which the retailer conducts business.
(3) “Food for consumption on the premises” means any of the following:
(A) “Hot prepared food” as defined below.
(B) Hot or cold sandwiches.
(C) Food served by an attendant to be eaten at tables, chairs, benches, booths, stools, counters, and similar conveniences and within parking areas for the convenience of in-car consumption of food.
(D) Food served with trays, glasses, dishes, or other tableware.
(E) Beverages sold in cups, glasses, or open containers.
(F) Food sold by caterers.
(G) Food sold within the premises of theatres, movies, operas, shows of any type or nature, exhibitions, concerts, carnivals, circuses, amusement parks, fairs, races, contests, games, athletic events, rodeos, billiard and pool parlors, bowling alleys, public dances, dance halls, boxing, wrestling and other matches, and any business which charges admission, entrance, or cover fees for exhibition, amusement, entertainment, or instruction.
(H) Any items contained in subsections (a)(3)(A) through (G) above even though they are sold on a “take-out” or “to go” basis, and whether or not the item is packaged, wrapped, or is actually taken from the premises.
(4) “Hot prepared food” means those products, items, or ingredients of food which are prepared and intended for consumption in a heated condition. “Hot prepared food” includes a combination of hot and cold food items or ingredients if a single price has been established.
(5) “Premises” means the total space and facilities in or on which a vendor conducts business and which are owned or controlled, in whole or in part, by a vendor or which are made available for the use of customers of the vendor or group of vendors, including any building or part of a building, parking lot, or grounds.
(b) “Food for home consumption” means all food, except food for consumption on the premises, if sold by any of the following:
(1) An eligible grocery business.
(2) A person who conducts a business whose primary business is not the sale of food but who sells food which is displayed, packaged, and sold in a similar manner as an eligible grocery business.
(3) A person who sells food and does not provide or make available any facilities for the consumption of food on the premises.
(4) A person who conducts a delicatessen business either from a counter which is separate from the place and cash register where taxable sales are made or from a counter which has two cash registers and which are used to record taxable and tax exempt sales, or a retailer who conducts a delicatessen business who uses a cash register which has at least two tax computing keys which are used to record taxable and tax exempt sales.
(5) (Reserved)
(6) Vending machines and other types of automatic retailers.
(7) A person’s sales of food, drink and condiment for consumption within the premises of any prison, jail or other institution under the jurisdiction of the State Department of Corrections, the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Juvenile Corrections or a county sheriff.