HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1008
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. |
As Passed House:
January 29, 2014
Title: An act relating to allowing sales of growlers of cider.
Brief Description: Allowing sales of growlers of cider.
Sponsors: Representatives S. Hunt, Appleton, Hurst, McCoy, Condotta, Fitzgibbon, Tharinger, Upthegrove, Reykdal and Magendanz.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Government Accountability & Oversight: 1/17/13, 1/29/13 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 3/9/13, 96-2.
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 1/29/14, 94-3.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY & OVERSIGHT |
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 8 members: Representatives Hurst, Chair; Wylie, Vice Chair; Condotta, Ranking Minority Member; Holy, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Blake, Kirby, Shea and Alexander.
Staff: David Rubenstein (786-7153).
Background:
The Liquor Control Board (Board) issues a variety of liquor licenses, including microbrewery, restaurant, and retailer licenses. Some licensees may sell beer in a sanitary container brought to the premises by the purchaser and filled at the tap at the time of sale (e.g., growlers). Licensees with this privilege include breweries, microbreweries, and taverns that hold a spirits, beer, and wine restaurant license and certain qualifying beer and wine specialty shops that hold a combined license.
Cider is defined as "table wine that contains not less than 0.5 percent of alcohol by volume and not more than 7 percent of alcohol by volume and is made from the normal alcoholic fermentation of the juice of sound, ripe apples or pears". Because cider is defined not as beer but as a separate category, cider cannot be sold in growlers under current law.
Summary of Bill:
The license permitting a restaurant or retailer to sell beer in a sanitary container brought to the premises by the purchaser or furnished by the licensee and filled at the tap by the licensee at the time of sale (e.g., growlers) also permits the sale of cider in such a container.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) This bill will help local breweries and distributors around the state. There is customer demand for ciders to be available in growlers. Cider is often made from Washington pears and apples, the best in the world, and the state should support locally grown produce and their byproducts. Also, the rise in gluten intolerance diagnoses and the fact that cider, unlike beer, is gluten free is yet another reason to make cider more readily available in growlers.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Cindy Zender, Total Wine & More; and Patrick Connor, National Federation of Independent Businesses.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.