HB 1362

Brief Description: Allowing sales of growlers of wine.

Sponsors: Representatives Wylie, Condotta, Hurst, S. Hunt, Moscoso and Sawyer.

Hearing Date: 1/27/15

Staff: David Rubenstein (786-7153).

Background:

The Liquor Control Board (Board) issues a variety of liquor licenses, including microbrewery, restaurant, and retailer licenses. Subject to various restrictions, some licensees may sell beer in a sanitary container brought to the premises by the purchaser or supplied by the licensee and filled at the tap at the time of sale (growlers). Any licensee permitted to sell beer in growlers is also permitted to sell cider in growlers.

Licensees that may sell growlers of beer and cider include: (1) domestic breweries and microbreweries; (2) beer and wine restaurants and taverns that hold a "combined" license; (3) certain beer and wine specialty shops; and (4) hotels. Additionally, licensed domestic wineries are permitted to sell wines of their own production in kegs and growlers meeting applicable provisions of federal law. Most such licenses require that beer and cider sold in growlers be for off-premises consumption.

Cider is defined as table wine made of fermented apples or pears containing between 0.5 percent and 7 percent alcohol by volume. Fortified wine is defined as unaged wine with an alcohol content greater than 14 percent that is not the result of a natural fermentation process.

Summary of Bill:

Licensees permitted to sell beer and cider in growlers are also permitted to sell wine in growlers. Fortified wine may not be sold in growlers.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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