FINAL BILL REPORT

                                   SSB 5450

                                   C 42 L 91

                              SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Concerning pasteurization in relation to licenses for the sale of beer.

SPONSORS:Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Senators Sellar, Snyder, Matson, Moore, McMullen, McDonald and Skratek).

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

BACKGROUND:

Current statutory language related to the issuance of class A, B, D and E beer retailer licenses differentiates between "pasteurized" and "unpasteurized" beer and between beer to be consumed on premises and beer to be consumed off premises.

Class A and class B beer licensees may sell beer for consumption on premises and may sell unpasteurized beer for consumption off premises.  Unpasteurized beer must be sold in a keg of not less than seven and three-fourths gallons or in a sanitary container brought to the premises by the purchaser which is filled at the tap by the retailer and is to be consumed off premises.

Class A licenses may be issued to hotels, restaurants, drug stores, soda fountains, clubs, dining places on boats and airplanes, and to sports arenas or race tracks during professional athletic events.  Class B licenses may be issued to taverns.

Class D beer licensees may sell pasteurized beer by the opened bottle for on-premises consumption.  Class D licenses may be issued to hotels, restaurants, clubs, drug stores, soda fountains, dining places on boats and airplanes, and other places where the sale of beer is not the principal business conducted.

Class E beer licensees may sell pasteurized beer in bottles and original packages to be consumed off premises.  Class E licenses may be issued to retail stores and to holders of class A or class B licenses.

SUMMARY:

All references made to "pasteurized" and "unpasteurized" beer are stricken from the statutes related to the issuance of class A, B, D and E beer retailer licenses.

Establishments holding only a class E beer retailer's license cannot sell malt liquor in kegs or other containers capable of holding four gallons or more of liquid.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate      45    0

House 92    0

EFFECTIVE:July 28, 1991