Brief Description: Authorizing licensees and managers to conduct courses of instruction on beer and wine and furnish beer and wine samples.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Wood, Condotta, Campbell and Chase).

House Committee on Commerce & Labor
Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development

Background:

Washington generally prohibits breweries, distilleries, wineries, and other producers or distributors of alcohol from furnishing wine, beer, or spirits free of charge. There are, however, several exceptions to this prohibition. Breweries, distilleries, wineries, and other producers or distributors, or their agents, are permitted to furnish alcohol free of charge to liquor license holders in conjunction with educational courses of instruction that these producers or distributors conduct relating to their products. These educational programs include instruction regarding the history, nature, values, and characteristics of beer, wine, or spirits, the use of wine lists, and methods of presenting, serving, storing, and handling the beer, wine, or spirits.

Summary:

The holders of beer and wine restaurant liquor licenses and spirits, beer, and wine restaurant liquor licenses, or their managers, are permitted to conduct courses of instruction regarding beer, wine, and spirits, as applicable, for their employees, and provide samples of beer, wine, and spirits, as applicable, free of charge as part of this course of instruction. The alcohol used for sampling must be alcohol that the licensee obtains under its license. The courses of instruction must be given on the premises of the license holder.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   97   1
Senate   47   2

Effective: July 24, 2005