The Department of Business Regulation’s Division of Commercial Licensing has regulatory oversight with respect to the manufacture, import, export, storage, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages. The Department issues licenses to manufacturers (breweries, distilleries, wineries, rectifiers), wholesalers, marine vessels, railroads and airplanes, and to class P caterers. All other liquor license types are considered retail licenses and are issued by the city or town where the business is located. City/town decisions on liquor licenses may be appealed to the Department in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-7-21.
The Division reviews applications, assesses and collects fees, conducts inspections, investigates complaints, and conducts enforcements with respect to regulated entities.
State Liquor Control FAQs and Information Sheets DBR Liquor Application Process FAQs PDF file, less than 1 mb megabytes Updated FAQ—Cross Tier Interests Questions PDF file, less than 1 mb megabytes Information Sheet—Classes of DBR-Issued Liquor Licenses PDF file, less than 1 mb megabytes Courtesy Information Table—Rhode Island Retail Licenses PDF file, less than 1 mb megabytes Hearings| Date | Time | Subject | Location or Zoom Access | Case Number |
| TBD | TBD | Estiatorio Fili, Inc. v. Providence Board of Licenses—Continuance Request | TBD | 22LQ012 |
| TBD | TBD | JMA Inc. d/b/a Mezzo Lounge, Appellant, v. City of Providence Board of Licenses—Motion for Stay | TBD | 23LQ007 |
| TBD | TBD | Saje Kitchen v. Providence Board of Licenses—Hearing Day 2 | TBD | 24LQ004 |
There are no scheduled hearings at this time.
To request sign language and/or CART services for the deaf and hard of hearing, please contact DBR via email or via telephone at (401) 462-9551. We strongly encourage you to do this at least 5 business days before the date of the scheduled hearing to allow adequate time to process your request.
DBR cannot comment on pending or prospective license applications. When a public hearing is scheduled, it will be displayed on our website, as well as published by newspaper. As stated in the FAQ, "the hearings are open to the public;" and "the Hearing Officer will hear comments from the public" and "determine the appropriate level of participation per the applicable procedural rules." Therefore, please reserve any comments you have about a pending application until the time of the public hearing. Please note that during the COVID pandemic, DBR will be holding public hearings on new liquor license applications via Zoom. Members of the public may join the "virtual meeting" or join by telephone; instructions will be displayed on our website. Members of the public may also submit comments on the application in writing within ten (10) days of the hearing date as permitted by the Hearing Officer.