Brief Description: Authorizing a caterer's endorsement for licensed microbreweries.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development (originally sponsored by Senators Spanel, Clements, Pflug, Kohl-Welles, Jacobsen, Rasmussen, Poulsen, Regala and Kline).

Hearing Date: 3/15/07

Staff: Joan Elgee (786-7106).

Background:

The Liquor Control Board (Board) issues licenses to microbreweries, which are defined as breweries producing less than 60,000 barrels of malt liquor a year.

Under Washington's three-tier system for the sale and distribution of beer and wine, generally the manufacturer, distributor, and retailer tiers are separate. Numerous exceptions, however, have been enacted. A microbrewery may obtain an endorsement to operate a beer and/or wine restaurant or a spirits, beer, and wine restaurant on its premises. Restaurant licensees may do catering for events sponsored by not-for-profit groups organized for specified purposes or for other events if attendance is limited to members or invited guests. The tied-house exemption does not address whether a microbrewery may also do catering as part of a restaurant endorsement.

Summary of Bill:

A microbrewery that also holds a spirits, beer, and wine restaurant license or a beer and/or wine restaurant license may receive a caterer's endorsement as permitted for restaurants.

The tied-house laws are amended to allow a brewery or microbrewery holding a spirits, beer, and wine restaurant license or a beer and/or wine restaurant license to exercise the privileges attached to the restaurant license.

Rules Authority: The bill does not address the rule-making powers of an agency.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.