Rhode Island General Laws Title 3. Alcoholic Beverages § 3-6-14.1. Pricing restrictions--Affirmation of price compliance

(a) No holder of a certificate of compliance for distilled spirits or vinous beverages shall ship, transport, or deliver within this state, or sell or offer for sale, to a wholesaler, any brand of distilled spirits or vinous beverages at a bottle or case price higher than the lowest price at which that item is then being sold or offered for sale or shipped, transported, or delivered by the holder of a certificate of compliance to any wholesaler in any other state of the United States or in the District of Columbia or to any state, including an agency of the state, which owns and operates retail liquor outlets.

(b) Prior to the shipment of distilled spirits or vinous beverages, the holder of a certificate of compliance, or the authorized representative of the holder, shall file with the department a written affirmation under oath by the holder of the certificate of compliance certifying that at the time of filing the bottle or case price to the wholesaler is no higher than the lowest price at which each item of distilled spirits or vinous beverages is being sold, offered for sale, shipped, transported, or delivered by that holder to any wholesaler in any other state in the United States or in the District of Columbia, or to any state or agency of a state which owns and operates retail liquor outlets.

(c) A holder of a certificate of compliance may file the affirmation required by this section once and may certify that the affirmation remains in full force and effect until amended as set forth in this title.

(d) In determining the lowest price for which any item or distilled spirits or vinous beverages is or was sold, offered for sale, shipped, transported or delivered by the holder of a certificate of compliance to a wholesaler in any other state or in the District of Columbia or to any state or state agency which owns and operates retail liquor outlets, appropriate reductions will be made for all discounts, rebates, free goods, allowances and other inducements of any kind whatever offered or given to the wholesaler in another state or in the District of Columbia or to any state agency which owns and operates retail liquor outlets. Differentials in price which make only due allowances for differences in state taxes and fees and for the actual cost of delivery are permissible. As used in this section, “state taxes and fees” means the excise taxes imposed or the fees required by any state or the District of Columbia upon or based upon a gallon of alcoholic liquor and “gallon” means one hundred twenty-eight (128) fluid ounces.

(e) This section shall not preclude the holder of a certificate of compliance from lowering prices to any wholesaler in any other state of the United States or in the District of Columbia, or to any state or agency of a state which owns and operates retail liquor outlets at any time but notice of this change shall be set forth in an amendment to the affirmation on file in the office of the department. This amendment shall be under oath and shall be filed within ten (10) days from the date of this change in price.

(f) The department shall enforce the provisions of this section and make any regulations that are necessary to carry out its provisions.