(a) All alcoholic beverages of more than five percent (5%) alcohol in excess of five gallons (5 gals.) that are owned or possessed by any person in any county of this state, whether or not such county has authorized the sale or distribution of alcohol within its jurisdiction, without the same having been purchased or obtained from an entity holding a license issued under § 57-3-204, § 57-3-203 or § 57-3-207, or manufactured at an entity holding a license issued under § 57-3-218, are declared to be contraband goods, and the same may be seized by the representative, agent or employee of the commission, or sheriff or deputy sheriffs of any such county, and such goods may be delivered to the alcoholic beverage commission for sale by the commissioner of general services in accordance with §§ 12-2-201 – 12-2-204. The reference to “sheriff or deputy sheriffs” in the preceding sentence also includes “constables” in those counties of this state enumerated in § 57-9-101. All alcoholic beverages, which are sold or stored in wet counties for the purpose of sale by a person who does not hold a state liquor license shall be contraband within the meaning of this part, and subject to seizure as provided herein. No bids shall be received on such contraband beverages except from persons duly licensed by the state to handle alcoholic beverages of more than five percent (5%).
lawyer at desk

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 57-9-201

  • beverage: means and includes alcohol, spirits, liquor, wine, high alcohol content beer, and every liquid containing alcohol, spirits, wine, and high alcohol content beer and capable of being consumed by a human being, other than patent medicine or beer, as defined in §. See Tennessee Code 57-3-101
  • Commission: means the alcoholic beverage commission, except as otherwise provided. See Tennessee Code 57-3-101
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • gallons: means a wine gallon or wine gallons, of one hundred and twenty-eight ounces (128 oz. See Tennessee Code 57-3-101
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Gift: means and includes the unauthorized distribution of alcoholic beverages by a licensee for which no payment is expected or received. See Tennessee Code 57-3-101
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • License: means the license issued pursuant to this chapter. See Tennessee Code 57-3-101
  • Manufacturer: means and includes a brewer of high alcohol content beer, distiller, vintner and rectifier. See Tennessee Code 57-3-101
  • Municipality: means an incorporated town or city having a population of:
    (i) Seven hundred (700) or more, according to the 2010 federal census or a subsequent federal census. See Tennessee Code 57-3-101
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Record: means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in a perceivable form. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Representative: when applied to those who represent a decedent, includes executors and administrators, unless the context implies heirs and distributees. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Retailer: means any person who sells at retail any beverage for the sale of which a license is required under this chapter. See Tennessee Code 57-3-101
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Wholesaler: means any person who sells at wholesale any beverage for the sale of which a license is required under this chapter. See Tennessee Code 57-3-101
  • Winery: means and includes any place or premises wherein wines are manufactured from any fruit or brandies distilled as the by-product of wine or other fruit or cordials compounded, and also includes a winery for the manufacture of wine. See Tennessee Code 57-3-101
(b) Any vehicle, aircraft or boat not a common carrier which may be used for transportation or storage, either in wet or dry counties, for the purpose of distribution, gift or sale of untaxed alcoholic beverages shall likewise be subject to confiscation and sale in the manner herein provided. Should any untaxed alcoholic beverages be found in any vehicle, aircraft or boat, same shall be prima facie evidence that it was there for gift, sale or distribution.
(c) Vehicles and any other articles of personal property which may be found at a still, still site, or place of storage, which still, still site or place of storage is being used by persons known or unknown who have failed to procure a state liquor license, or have failed to pay the taxes imposed by § 57-3-302 are declared to be contraband goods and shall likewise be subject to confiscation and sale in the manner herein provided; however, before any vehicle declared to be contraband, under this part, is sold as provided herein, a copy of notice of seizure shall be sent by registered mail to the owner and lienholder as of record in the motor vehicle division of the department of revenue. Such notice shall state a general description of the seized vehicle, the reasons for the seizure, the procedure by which recovery of the vehicle may be sought, including the time period in which a claim for recovery must be presented, and the consequences of failing to file within the time period. A copy of the notice shall be filed in the office of the commission and shall be open to the public for inspection.
(d) This section shall be applicable to dry counties in like manner as to wet counties.
(e) In the case of any vehicle, aircraft, or boat not a common carrier seized by any law enforcement officer of any incorporated municipality or of any county and turned over to the commission for confiscation, fifty percent (50%) of the amount received from the sale thereof shall be paid to the municipality or to the county served by such law enforcement officer, as the case may be.
(f) The presence of alcoholic beverages at a still, still site or place of storage in excess of one gallon (1 gal.) without a bill of lading or receipt from a licensed retailer, wholesaler, winery or manufacturer shall create a rebuttable presumption that the taxes imposed by § 57-3-302 have not been paid.
  Previous section
Next section  
 Part 2 Contents