HOUSE BILL REPORT
SHB 1431
As Passed Legislature
Title: An act relating to courses of instruction on beer, wine, and spiritous liquor.
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).
Brief History:
Commerce & Labor: 2/2/05, 2/14/05 [DPS].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 3/8/05, 97-1.
Passed Senate: 4/11/05, 47-2.
Passed Legislature.
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 6 members: Representatives Conway, Chair; Wood, Vice Chair; Condotta, Ranking Minority Member; Sump, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Crouse and McCoy.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 1 member: Representative Hudgins.
Staff: Erik Van Hagen (786-5793), and Chris Cordes (786-7103).
Background:
Washington generally prohibits breweries, distilleries, wineries, and other producers or
distributors of alcohol from furnishing wine, beer and spirits free of charge. However, there
are 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 of Substitute Bill:
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 free of charge, as applicable, 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.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: Restaurants can provide educational programs for their employees, but they currently may only be conducted by a wholesaler or winery. This can be difficult to arrange. The bill is narrowly drawn to permit the licensee or manager to conduct courses of instruction and provide free samples to employees as part of the course of instruction. Licensees and their managers are all MAST (mandatory alcohol server training) certified.
Testimony Against: None.
Persons Testifying: (In support) Michael Transue, Washington Restaurant Association.
(Neutral) Rick Garza, Liquor Control Board.