TITLE XIII
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

CHAPTER 179
ENFORCEMENT, REQUIREMENTS AND PENALTIES

Section 179:13

    179:13 Limited Credits. –
I. Each holder of a wholesale distributor, brew pub, nano brewery, or beverage manufacturer license shall report to the commission the name and license number of any on-premises or off-premises licensee who is delinquent in making payment of accounts over a total of $250 within 10 days, including Sundays and holidays, from the date of delivery of beverages on the premises of such on-premises or off-premises licensee or on the premises of a liquor/wine/beverage warehouser storing the beverages for an on-premises or off-premises licensee. Each holder of a wholesale distributor license, brew pub license, nano brewery license, beverage manufacturer license, or beverage vendor license shall report to the commission the name and license number of any holder of a wholesale distributor license who is delinquent in making payments of accounts within 30 days from the date of delivery of beverages on the premises of such holder of a wholesale distributor license. Such report to the commission shall include the amounts purchased and the dates when payments were due and shall be forwarded to the commission within 5 days after said accounts become delinquent, unless the fifth day of such period is a Sunday or holiday in which case the report shall be forwarded the day following such Sunday or holiday.
II. Each holder of a beverage manufacturer license, beverage vendor license, brew pub license, nano brewery license, or wholesale distributor license shall immediately notify the commission of the receipt of the payment of any account which has been reported to the commission as delinquent. Post-dated checks beyond the 5-day reporting period shall not constitute payments of accounts for the purchases of beverages. Checks given in payment for beverages which are returned for nonpayment after the 5-day reporting period shall immediately constitute a delinquency and shall, upon return, be reported to the commission. Payments collected by agents shall be reported as delinquent unless actually received at the place of business of the holder of the beverage manufacturer license, beverage vendor license, brew pub license, nano brewery license, or wholesale distributor license on or before the fifth day of the reporting period. When collections are made by an agent, the sales slips or invoices shall be clearly marked with the name of the person making the collection and the date of such collection. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a licensee from making a payment by credit card, debit card, or other acceptable commercial means. Holders of a beverage manufacturer license, beverage vendor license, brew pub license, nano brewery license, or wholesale distributor license may add a transactional fee to the delinquent account when accepting a payment method that incurs a transactional fee. Nothing in this section shall require a beverage manufacturer licensee, beverage vendor licensee, brew pub licensee, nano brewery licensee, or wholesale distributor licensee to accept a credit card, debit card, or other acceptable commercial means.
III. The commission shall inform holders of beverage manufacturer licenses, beverage vendor licenses, brew pub licenses, nano brewery licenses, and wholesale distributor licenses of the names of licensees who are delinquent in making payments of a total amount of $250 or more under the provisions of this section and no holder of a beverage manufacturer license, beverage vendor license, brew pub license, nano brewery license, or wholesale distributor license shall knowingly make any delivery of beverages to any licensee whose payments for purchases of beverages are reported as delinquent under this section. The commission may withhold names of delinquent licensees under circumstances in which there is a dispute over payments, an agreement to liquidate which has been approved by the commission, or other reason which the commission may deem proper.
IV. The commission may impose a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 for a violation of this section. Determinations of a failure to comply with this section shall be made by the commission.
V. Each wholesale distributor, brew pub licensee, nano brewery, or beverage manufacturer shall notify any retailer reported to the commission pursuant to RSA 179:13, I who is delinquent in making payment of accounts. Notification shall be delivered in writing to the licensee by a representative of the wholesaler, brew pub licensee, nano brewery, or beverage manufacturer. Proof of notification shall be forwarded to the commission, whose enforcement division shall issue an administrative notice for a violation of the provisions of RSA 179:13, I and shall forward a report of violation for administrative action. Any license issued to any business violating the provisions of RSA 179:13, I may be suspended by the commission for nonpayment of accounts which are delinquent more than 15 days from the date of the wholesale distributor's, brew pub licensee's, nano brewery's, or beverage manufacturer's notification, providing the requirements of this section have been met.

Source. 1990, 255:1. 1992, 115:2, 3. 1996, 275:20. 1997, 207:16. 1998, 42:2; 78:1, 2. 1999, 169:5, 6. 2003, 231:15. 2011, 128:2, eff. July 1, 2011 at 12:01 a.m. 2018, 85:1, eff. July 24, 2018. 2023, 144:1, 2, eff. July 1, 2023.