Brief Description: Revising provisions relating to acceptable forms of identification for liquor sales.

Sponsors: Representatives Hudgins, McMorris, Conway and Kenney; by request of Liquor Control Board.

Hearing Date: 1/26/04

Staff: Susan Kavanaugh (786-7106).

Background:

Employees in state-run and contracted Washington liquor stores are required to check the identification of a customer whenever there is a question of whether the individual is at least 21 years old, and so legally entitled to purchase liquor.

Identification must show the person's date of birth and include both a signature and a photograph. Liquor store employees are instructed to use the date of birth and photograph to confirm age and identity. Employees of establishments licensed to sell alcoholic beverages, such as bars, restaurants, and grocery stores, follow the same procedure.

U.S. military identification cards issued to active duty, reserve, and retired military personnel and their dependents are among the officially issued forms of identification listed in statute as being acceptable for liquor store sales, and, in rule, as acceptable for licensed establishments.

The military recently adopted a new identification card that includes an embedded digital signature, rather than one which is visible.

Summary of Bill:

For the purpose of proving that an individual seeking to purchase liquor is of legal age to do so, military identification that has an embedded rather than a visible signature is an acceptable form of identification.

The Liquor Control Board may adopt regulations covering cards of identification.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.