Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Commerce & Labor Committee

SB 5060

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Raises the amount of home-made beer and wine which may be removed from the home from one to 20 gallons.
Expands the purposes for which home-made beer and wine may be removed from the home to include private consumption, meetings, conferences, and use by nonprofit organizations.

Background:

Beer and wine made in the home is generally exempt from regulation under the state alcohol beverage control laws, as long as the beer or wine is consumed in the home and not sold. State law does allow an adult to remove not more than one gallon of home-made beer or wine from the home for exhibition or use at an organized beer or wine tasting or competition. Home-made beer and wine removed from the home may not be sold or used by any person other than the producer and the event judges. Any beer or wine left over from the tasting or competition must be returned to the home in which it was produced.

Summary of Bill:

The exemption from alcohol beverage control laws for home-made beer and wine is expanded to any home-made beer and wine used for private consumption, rather than beer and wine for consumption in the home. The amount of home-made beer or wine an adult may remove from the home is changed from one gallon to 20 gallons. In addition to exhibitions and organized beer or wine tastings and competitions, home-made beer and wine may be removed from the home for private consumption, meetings, conferences, and for use by 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. The requirement that any beer or wine left over from a tasting or competition must be returned to the home is eliminated.

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