Compliant Bootlegger · All wholesale states · DTC tool
Rhode Island Wholesale Distribution Reference
Three-tier distribution reference for out-of-state suppliers of wine, beer, spirits and cider. General information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with state authorities. Listed agency fees are not Compliant Bootlegger service fees.
Rhode Island — wine
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Certificate of Compliance
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- No fee with license; however, license is granted with brand registrations, which costs $40 per brand annually
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- Yes – Agent’s license
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes – per brand, done by applying for a Certificate of Compliance
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- No – wholesalers designated in brand registrations must be in good standing with the ABC
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- Maximum of 3 liters, only of brands the retailer has not purchased in last 12 months
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- $0.60 per gallon on all still wine; $0.75 per gallon on all sparking wine
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Yes – A report detailing each shipment made must be filed monthly
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Rhode Island — beer
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Certificate of Compliance and Affirmation
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- No fee with license; however, license is granted with brand registrations, which costs $40 per brand annually
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- Yes – Agent’s license, $50 annually paid by agent
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes – Brand
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- No more than 3 gallons of any brand, limited to brands not purchased by retailer in previous 12 month
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- $3.00 per barrel
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Yes – monthly list of invoices must be filed
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Rhode Island — spirits
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No, Rhode Island is not a control state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- No, an out-of-state spirits manufacturer may not self-distribute to retailers in Rhode Island.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Rhode Island requires a Certificate of Compliance for out-of-state suppliers to sell to in-state wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- No fee with an out-of-state supplier license in Rhode Island; however, license is granted with brand registrations, which cost $40 per brand annually.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- No, you do not need money held in bond to obtain a license in Rhode Island.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- Yes, Rhode Island requires an Agent's License for suppliers' in-state representatives.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes, Rhode Island requires product brand/labels to be registered per brand before they can be sold to in-state wholesalers. This is done by applying for a Certificate of Compliance.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- Yes, Rhode Island requires price posting.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- Yes, Rhode Island requires Distributor Agreements to be filed with state regulators. This is part of applying for a Certificate of Compliance.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- No, Rhode Island does not require territory assignments to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- No, Rhode Island does not have rules on the exclusivity of territory or brand assignments between suppliers and their wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- In Rhode Island, a spirits supplier may provide samples of a maximum of 3 liters, and only of brands the retailer has not purchased in last 12 months.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- No, there are no franchise rules in Rhode Island that can restrict a spirits supplier's ability to negotiate or cancel their distributor agreements.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes, Rhode Island has sourcing restrictions on whom wholesalers can purchase from.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes, there are come to rest provisions in Rhode Island.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- Rhode Island imposes an excise tax on spirits of $1.10 per gallon for spirits with a proof of 30 or less; $5.40 for spirits with a proof greater than 30.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No, Rhode Island does not require out-of-state suppliers to remit the excise taxes.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Rhode Island requires a report detailing each shipment made to be filed monthly from out-of-state suppliers on their sales to in-state wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Rhode Island — cider
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No, Rhode Island is not a control state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- No, an out-of-state cider manufacturer may not self-distribute to retailers in Rhode Island.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Rhode Island requires out-of-state cideries to hold a Certificate of Compliance and Affirmation to sell to Rhode Island wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- Rhode Island does not charge to receive a Certificate of Compliance, but the application is done concurrent with brand registrations, which cost $40 per brand annually.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- Rhode Island does not require suppliers to hold a bond in the state to apply for a license.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- Yes, Rhode Island requires salespersons employed by a supplier to hold an Agent's License.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes, Rhode Island requires that cider products are registered per brand before they can be sold to in-state wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No, Rhode Island does not require posting prices.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- Yes, Rhode Island requires Distributor Agreements to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- No, Rhode Island does not require territory assignments to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- No, Rhode Island does not have rules on the exclusivity of territory or brand assignments between suppliers and their wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- In Rhode Island, suppliers may provide no more than 3 gallons of any brand for sampling by a retailer, limited to brands not purchased by the retailer in the previous 12 months.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- Yes, Rhode Island has franchise laws for malt beverages that may affect the ability for cider makers to structure their distributor contracts for ciders with an ABV less than 6%. However, there are no franchise laws for wines in Rhode Island, so higher ABV ciders should not be affected by those. It is recommended to consult an attorney to fully understand how franchise rules may affect you.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes, Rhode Island has sourcing restrictions on from whom wholesalers can purchase.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes, Rhode Island requires cider to come to rest at a wholesaler warehouse before being delivered to retailers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- In Rhode Island, ciders with an ABV of 6% or less are taxed at $3.00 per 31-gallon barrel, and ciders with an ABV greater than 6% are taxed at $0.60 per gallon.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No, Rhode Island does not require out-of-state suppliers to remit excise taxes on their products sold in the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Rhode Island requires suppliers to file a monthly list of their wholesaler invoices with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.