FINAL BILL REPORT

ESHB 1202

C 186 L 11

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Creating a pilot project to allow spirits sampling in state liquor stores and contract stores.

Sponsors: House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs (originally sponsored by Representatives Hunt, Taylor and Moscoso).

House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs

Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection

Background:

In Washington, spirits in the original package may be sold only in state liquor stores and contract liquor stores. (An exception allows limited sales of spirits by craft distillers.)

Sampling of spirits, beer, and wine by retail customers is permitted in some circumstances. Beer and/or wine specialty shops may serve samples of two ounces or less to a customer. Legislation enacted in 2010 allows certain grocery stores to conduct tastings with an endorsement issued by the Board. Breweries and wineries may also serve samples. A craft distillery may provide one-half ounce or less samples of spirits, up to a total of two ounces per day to a customer, on its premises.

An Alcohol Impact Area (AIA) is a geographic area, designated by a local government and recognized by resolution of the Board, that is adversely affected by chronic public inebriation or illegal activity associated with alcohol sales or consumption. The Board may place restrictions on licensees located in an AIA.

Persons who solicit or take orders for a distiller, manufacturer, importer, or distributor of spirits must hold a representative's license issued by the Board.

Liquor may not be consumed on the premises of a state liquor store.

Summary:

The Liquor Control Board (Board) is directed to establish a pilot project for spirits sampling in state and contract liquor stores to promote the sponsor's products.

The pilot project consists of 30 locations with at least six samplings to be conducted at each location between September 1, 2011, and September 1, 2012. Only one sampling per week at a store is permitted. The Board must select the stores. In selecting stores, the Board must give:

• due consideration to the location of the store with respect to places of worship, schools, and public institutions, and written notice to these entities located within 500 feet of the store; and

• due consideration to motor vehicle accident data in the proximity of the store.

The following conditions apply to sampling:

• Only persons age 21 or over and no apparently intoxicated person may sample spirits.

• Samples may take place only in an area of the store where access to persons under age 21 is prohibited.

• Samples may be free of charge.

• Samples must be one-quarter ounce or less, with no more than one ounce of samples per person per day.

• Only sponsors may serve samples. A sponsor is a domestic distiller or an accredited representative of a distiller, manufacturer, importer, or distributor of spirits.

• Any person involved in serving samples must have completed a Mandatory Alcohol Server Training program.

• The product sampled must be available for sale at the store where the sampling occurs.

• Customers must remain on the premises while consuming samples.

The Board may prohibit sampling at a store within the boundaries of an Alcohol Impact Area if the sampling is having an adverse effect on the reduction of chronic public inebriation. All other criteria needed to establish and monitor the pilot project are determined by the Board. The Board may adopt rules to implement the pilot project.

The prohibition against consuming liquor on the premises of a state liquor store is amended to allow spirits sampling, and contract stores are given explicit authority for sampling on their premises.

The Board must report on the pilot project to the appropriate committees of the Legislature by December 1, 2012. The report must include the results of a survey of state and contract liquor store managers. The act expires on December 1, 2012.

Votes on Final Passage: