Nick Fede Jr., Executive Director, Rhode Island Liquor Operators Collaborative.
Standing Together as We Approach the 2026 Legislative Session
By Nick Fede, Jr., Director, Rhode Island Liquor Operators Collaborative
As we approach the 2026 legislative session, one truth stands out: Advocacy is not optional. It is the tool that ensures decisions about our industry are made with us, not for us. Rhode Island’s independent liquor retailers are vital to the state’s economy and community fabric, but every year proposals surface that could fundamentally alter how we do business.
Like in recent years, several issues are expected to come forth in 2026 that demand our unified voice: the Bottle Bill, beer and wine in grocery stores, runaway credit card swipe fees and the urgent need for hemp-derived THC regulation.
The Bottle Bill: Environmental Goals, Retail Realities
On paper, the Bottle Bill sounds like a simple recycling fix. In reality, it would force small retailers to act as redemption centers—handling sticky, unsanitary containers while trying to serve customers. Retail outlets of all shapes and sizes lack the space, staff and infrastructure to absorb these costs.
We support sustainability, but the burden of fixing our state’s broken recycling system should not fall on small mom-and-pop businesses. Lawmakers must hear this truth from us directly and come up with a solution that reinvests in Rhode Island instead of just passing the buck.
Beer and Wine in Grocery Stores: A Threat to Local Ownership
Year after year, big-box chains push to sell beer and wine. The pitch is “consumer convenience,” but the reality is market consolidation. Allowing groceries to enter this space would cripple Rhode Island’s balanced, locally rooted system, driving independent stores out and eroding neighborhood anchors that have served communities for decades.
This is not about convenience—it’s about protecting small businesses from corporate dominance. Advocacy ensures legislators see the full picture before making an irreversible choice.
Credit Card Swipe Fees: The Hidden Tax
Few issues hurt our margins more than crippling credit card swipe fees. American retailers pay some of the highest credit card processing costs in the world, draining billions into the coffers of big banks. These costs are invisible to the consumer, unavoidable for the merchant and growing every year.
For stores already squeezed by rising wages, rent and compliance costs, swipe fees can mean the difference between survival and closure. Reform is long overdue, and lawmakers need to hear our stories loud and clear.
Hemp-Derived THC: A Regulatory Gap That Cannot Wait
Perhaps the most urgent challenge is hemp-derived THC. Right now, these products are flooding the market with little oversight—often sold in gas stations and convenience stores with no age checks, dosage standards or quality controls. This is not only a public health issue but also an economic one, creating an unregulated marketplace that undermines licensed operators who comply with stringent alcohol and cannabis laws.
Rhode Island cannot afford to ignore this gap. We need clear, enforceable regulations that ensure consumer safety, establish parity across industries and prevent fly-by-night operators from destabilizing the marketplace. If we do not advocate forcefully, decisions will be made that put our businesses and our communities at risk.
Advocacy Is Our Responsibility
So, what does effective advocacy mean in 2026? It means showing up—at the State House, at hearings and in direct conversations with lawmakers. It means sharing real stories about what these policies would mean for your business, your employees and your community.
RILOC exists to amplify your voice, but no organization can succeed without the energy, financial backing and participation of its members. Every letter, every phone call, every personal conversation matters. Legislators need to hear not only from associations but from the people who live these challenges every day.
The Path Forward
The issues on the horizon are complex, but our message is simple: Rhode Island’s independent liquor retailers are not obstacles to progress—we are partners in building a sustainable, fair and vibrant marketplace. But to play that role, we must be heard.
Silence is not neutrality. It is surrender. Advocacy is our responsibility, and together it is our strength. As we enter this pivotal session, let’s commit to standing united—for our businesses, our employees and the communities we serve.
Nick Fede Jr. serves as RILOC’s Executive Director, American Beverage Licensees’ Vice President (Off-Premise) and is a third-generation liquor retailer.
