(A) Restrictions on sales. Sales of beer and intoxicating liquor under all classes of permits and from liquor stores are subject to the following restrictions, in addition to those imposed by the rules or orders of the state Division of Liquor Control.
(1) (a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or in R.C. Chapter 4301, no beer or intoxicating liquor shall be sold to any person under 21 years of age.
(b) No low-alcohol beverage shall be sold to any person under 18 years of age. No permit issued by the Division shall be suspended, revoked, or cancelled because of a violation of this division (A)(1)(b).
(c) No intoxicating liquor shall be handled by any person under 21 years of age, except that a person 18 years of age or older employed by a permit holder may handle or sell beer or intoxicating liquor in sealed containers in connection with wholesale or retail sales, and any person 19 years of age or older employed by a permit holder may handle intoxicating liquor in open containers when acting in the capacity of a server in a hotel, restaurant, club, or night club, as defined in R.C. § 4301.01, or in the premises of a D-7 permit holder. This section does not authorize persons under 21 years of age to sell intoxicating liquor across a bar. Any person employed by a permit holder may handle beer or intoxicating liquor in sealed containers in connection with manufacturing, storage, warehousing, placement, stocking, bagging, loading, or unloading, and may handle beer or intoxicating liquor in open containers in connection with cleaning tables or handling empty bottles or glasses.
(2) No permit holder and no agent or employee of a permit holder shall sell or furnish beer or intoxicating liquor to an intoxicated person.
(3) (a) No sales of intoxicating liquor shall be made after 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, except under either of the following circumstances:
1. Intoxicating liquor may be sold on Sunday under authority of a permit that authorizes Sunday sale.
2. Spiritous liquor may be sold on Sunday by any person awarded an agency contract under R.C. § 4301.17 if the sale of spiritous liquor is authorized in the applicable precinct as the result of an election on question (B)(1) or (B)(2) of R.C. § 4301.351 and if the agency contract authorizes the sale of spiritous liquor on Sunday.
(b) This section does not prevent the municipality from adopting a closing hour for the sale of intoxicating liquor earlier than 2:30 a.m. on Sunday or to provide that no intoxicating liquor may be sold prior to that hour on Sunday.
(4) (a) No holder of a permit shall give away any beer or intoxicating liquor of any kind at any time in connection with the permit holder’s business. However, with the exception of an A-1-A permit holder that also has been issued an A-2 or A-2f permit, an A-1-A, A-1c, or D permit holder may provide to a paying customer not more than a total of four tasting samples of beer, wine, or spirituous liquor, as authorized by the applicable permit, in any twenty-four-hour period. The permit holder shall provide the tasting samples free of charge, at the permit holder’s expense, only to a person who is 21 years of age or older. The person shall consume the tasting samples on the premises of the permit holder. A distributor is not responsible for the costs of providing tasting samples authorized under division (A)(4) of this section.
(b) As used in division (A)(4) of this section:
TASTING SAMPLE. Means one of the following, as applicable:
a. An amount not to exceed two ounces of beer;
b. An amount not to exceed two ounces of wine;
c. An amount not to exceed a quarter ounce of spirituous liquor.
D PERMIT HOLDER. Means a person that has been issued a D-1, D-2, D-2x, D-3, D-3a, D-3 x, D-4, D-5, D-5a, D-5c, D-5d, D-5e, D-5f, D-5g, D-5h, D-5i, D-5j, D-5k, D-5l, D-5m, D-5n, D-5o, D-6, or D-7 permit.
(5) Except as otherwise provided in this division, no retail permit holder shall display or permit the display on the outside of any licensed retail premises, on any lot of ground on which the licensed premises are situated, or on the exterior of any building of which the licensed premises are a part, any sign, illustration, or advertisement bearing the name, brand name, trade name, trademark, designation, or other emblem of, or indicating the manufacturer, producer, distributor, place of manufacture, production, or distribution of, any beer or intoxicating liquor. Signs, illustrations, or advertisements bearing the name, brand name, trade name, trademark, designation, or other emblem of or indicating the manufacturer, producer, distributor, place of manufacture, production, or distribution of beer or intoxicating liquor may be displayed and permitted to be displayed on the interior or in the show windows of any licensed premises, if the particular brand or type of product so advertised is actually available for sale on the premises at the time of that display. The Liquor Control Commission shall determine by rule the size and character of those signs, illustrations, or advertisements.
(6) No retail permit holder shall possess on the licensed premises any barrel or other container from which beer is drawn, unless there is attached to the spigot or other dispensing apparatus the name of the manufacturer of the product contained in the barrel or other container, provided that, if the beer is served at a bar, the manufacturer’s name or brand shall appear in full view of the purchaser. The Commission shall regulate the size and character of the devices provided for in this section.
(7) Except as otherwise provided in this division, no sale of any gift certificate shall be permitted whereby beer or intoxicating liquor of any kind is to be exchanged for the certificate, unless the gift certificate can be exchanged only for food, and beer or intoxicating liquor, for on-premises consumption and the value of the beer or intoxicating liquor does not exceed more than 30% of the total value of the gift certificate. The sale of gift certificates for the purchase of beer, wine, or mixed beverages shall be permitted for the purchase of beer, wine, or mixed beverages for off-premises consumption. Limitations on the use of a gift certificate for the purchase of beer, wine, or mixed beverages for off-premises consumption may be expressed by clearly stamping or typing on the face of the certificate that the certificate may not be used for the purchase of beer, wine, or mixed beverages for on-premises consumption.
(R.C. § 4301.22) (Rev. 2018)
(B) Division (A)(1) not modified or affected. The provisions of R.C. §§ 4301.633 through 4301.637, or substantially equivalent municipal ordinances, shall not be deemed to modify or affect division (A)(1) of this section or R.C. § 4301.22(A).
(R.C. § 4301.638) (Rev. 2003)
(C) Penalties.
(1) Whoever violates divisions (A)(1)(b) or (A)(3) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(R.C. § 4301.99(B))
(2) Whoever violates divisions (A)(1)(a), (A)(1)(c) or (A)(2) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(R.C. § 4301.99(D), (H)) (Rev. 2005)
Statutory reference:
Suspension of beer and liquor sales during emergency, see R.C. § 4301.251