Brief Description: Allowing certain activities between domestic wineries, domestic breweries, microbreweries, certificate of approval holders, and retail sellers of beer or wine.

Sponsors: By Representatives Conway, Condotta and Kenney.

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

Background:

The liquor "tied-house" law prohibits manufacturers from having a financial interest in a licensed retailer or from providing things of value ("money or moneys' worth") to a retailer.

The Legislature has enacted a number of exceptions to the tied-house law. In 2006, legislation was passed to allow domestic wineries and retailers to jointly produce brochures and materials promoting tourism which contain information about domestic wineries, retailers, and their products.

Liquor manufacturers and distributors may conduct courses of instruction for licensees and their employees on beer, wine, and spirits, including but not limited to the history, nature, values, and characteristics of beer, wine, and spirits, the use of wine lists, and the methods of presenting, serving, storing, and handling beer, wine, and spirits.

Summary:

The provision allowing domestic wineries and retailers to jointly produce tourism materials is expanded to include regional, state, or local wine industry associations.

Additional tied-house exceptions are made. Domestic wineries and breweries, microbreweries, and certificate of approval holders (out-of-state wineries and breweries) may include on their web sites information about retailers who sell or promote their products, including links to the retailers' web sites. Retailers may likewise provide information and links on their web sites for wineries, breweries, microbreweries, and certificate of approval holders.

Domestic wineries and winery certificate of approval holders may provide personal services for a licensed retailer on the retailer's premises that are intended to inform, educate, or enhance customers' knowledge or experience of the manufacturer's products. The personal services may include participation and pouring at the premises of a restaurant or speciality wine shop, bottle signings, and similar informational or educational activities.

The authority of liquor manufacturers and distributors to conduct courses of instruction for licensees and their employees is modified to explicitly include chefs and instruction on what wines go well with different types of food.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   96   0
Senate   47   0   (Senate amended)
House   97   0   (House concurred)

Effective: July 22, 2007