Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Government Accountability & Oversight Committee

HB 2305

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

Removes references to obsolete state-run liquor system.
Clarifies use of term "liquor."
Clarifies who may serve alcoholic beverages in areas off limits to those under age 21.

Background:

State Liquor System.

Initiative 1183 (I-1183), enacted into law by Washington voters in 2011, eliminated Washington’s state-run and contract liquor store system in favor of private retailers. Under the state-run system, state-run and contract liquor stores purchased liquor at wholesale and sold it to the public with a tax and markup, or the gross profit to the state on the sale of liquor. After I-1183, state-run stores operated by the Liquor Control Board (LCB) were closed and contract stores became independent private retailers, similar to any other licensee.

Numerous references to the now-defunct state liquor system remain in the code. Because of I-1183, many of those references are now meaningless.

Sales Taxes.

Initiative 1183 required that all taxes collected on the sale of spirits continue to apply and modified a statute imposing sales taxes on spirits to reflect the new system. However, statutes relating to sampling and permits to purchase spirits do not reference the sales tax statute.

Summary of Bill:

References to the now defunct state-run and contract liquor store system are eliminated from statutory sections providing for purchase and sale procedures, importation of liquor, penalties for violations, taxes, and discounts for certain licensees purchasing spirits at state-run liquor stores.

Repeals a statute allowing certain licensees to purchase spirits at a discount from the LCB.

References to "markup" are removed from liquor control statutes.

Reference to a sales tax statute is added to sections relating to liquor permits and sampling.

“Liquor,” which includes distilled spirits, wine, and beer, is changed to “spirits” where wine and beer are already provided for.

The timing and copies required of reporting by spirits certificate of approval holders are modified.

Clarifies that 18–21 year old employees of liquor licensee restaurants and clubs may serve liquor except in areas classified as off-limits to persons under 21 years old.