SENATE BILL REPORT

 

                            SB 5128

 

              AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 16, 1993

 

 

Brief Description:  Raising keg registration container size requirements from four to five and one‑half gallons.

 

SPONSORS: Senators Moore, Newhouse, Snyder and Amondson

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE

 

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Moore, Chairman; Prentice, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Barr, Fraser, McAuliffe, Newhouse, Pelz, Prince, Sutherland, and Vognild.

 

Staff:  Traci Ratzliff (786‑7452)

 

Hearing Dates: January 26, 1993

 

 

BACKGROUND:

 

Current law prohibits small groceries or other off premise class E licensees from selling malt liquor (any variety of beer) in kegs holding four or more gallons.  A class E licensee must obtain a class A or class B license if they wish to sell malt liquor in kegs larger than four gallons.

 

SUMMARY:

 

Small groceries or other off premise class E licensees may sell malt liquor in kegs of up to five and one-half gallons without being required to obtain a class A or class B license if all such sales comply with laws concerning the registration of kegs.

 

The Liquor Control Board may charge class E licensees for keg registration booklets.  Fees are deposited into the liquor revolving fund and may be spent by the board, without appropriation, to administer the cost of the keg registration program.

 

Appropriation:  none

 

Revenue:  none

 

Fiscal Note:  none requested

 

TESTIMONY FOR:

 

This bill would allow small grocery stores to sell small party kegs of up to five and a half gallons.  Purchasers of such kegs would have to comply with keg registration requirements.

 

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

 

TESTIFIED:  Stu Halsan, Coors Brewing Company; Carter Mitchell, Liquor Control Board