FINAL BILL REPORT

                                   ESB 6292

                                   C 78 L 92

                              SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Expanding the sales opportunities of licensed brewers and domestic wineries.

SPONSORS: Senators Bauer, Newhouse, Thorsness, Moore and Vognild

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

BACKGROUND:

Under current law, breweries are licensed to sell beer of their own production for on or off-premise consumption.  For the purpose of conducting such activity, an establishment holding a brewer's license is considered to have wholesaling and retailing privileges for products of their own production.  However, a brewery desiring to sell wine or beer produced by another brewery for consumption on premises is required to hold a class H restaurant license and must provide full meal services.

In like manner, domestic wineries are licensed to sell wine of their own production for on or off-premise consumption.  For the purposes of conducting such activity, an establishment holding a domestic winery license is also considered to have wholesaling and retailing privileges for products of their own production.  However, a winery desiring to sell beer or wine produced by another winery for consumption on premises is required to obtain a class H restaurant license and must provide full meal service. 

The range of license fees for applicable retail liquor licenses are as follows:  A - beer license, $205-$355; B - beer tavern, $205-$355; C - wine, $150-$300; H - beer/wine/ spirits, $1,200-$2,000.

SUMMARY:

Licensed brewers and domestic wineries are authorized to obtain a beer or wine retailer's license for on-premise consumption at the brewery or domestic winery.  The alcoholic beverages that are not produced by the brewery or domestic winery are required to be purchased from a licensed beer or wine wholesaler.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate      44    2

House 95    0     (House amended)

Senate      40    8     (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:  June 11, 1992