Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Government Accountability & Oversight Committee

HB 2680

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

Authorizes the Liquor Control Board (LCB) to issue a caterer's license to sell spirits, beer, and wine, by the individual serving, at retail, at a catered event location that is either owned, leased, or operated either by the caterer or the sponsor of the event for which catering services are being provided.
Requires that the holder of the caterer's license pay an annual fee of two hundred dollars for a beer license, two hundred dollars for a wine license, or four hundred dollars for a combination beer and wine license. The annual fee for a combined beer, wine, and spirits license is one thousand dollars.
Requires that the holder of this license must, if requested by the LCB, notify the LCB or its designee of the date, time, place, and location of any catered event at which liquor will be served.
Authorizes employees of a business, holding a catering license, and who are at least eighteen years of age, to take orders for, serve, and sell liquor in any part of the licensed premises except those areas that are classified as off-limits to persons under twenty-one years of age (e.g., cocktail lounges, bars, etc.).

Background:

Washington State Liquor Control Board.

The Liquor Control Board (LCB) is responsible for the overall regulation of the distribution and sale of liquor in this state, including the issuance of liquor licenses to the various categories of businesses authorized to sell or otherwise provide liquor to the public. The regulatory authority of the LCB includes the authority to prescribe:

the terms and conditions to be contained in permits and licenses and the qualifications for receiving a permit or license;
the fees payable for any permits and licenses issued under Title 66 RCW for which no fees are prescribed, as well as the fees for anything done or permitted to be done under the regulations adopted by the LCB; and
the conditions, accommodations, and qualifications requisite to the obtaining of licenses to sell beer, wine, and spirits, and regulating the sale of beer, wine, and spirits pursuant to those licenses.

Restaurant Liquor Licenses.

Washington liquor statutes authorize various types of licenses, including licenses for restaurants and taverns. Restaurant liquor license fees range from $200 for wine or beer, or $400 for both, and up to $2,000 for certain spirits, beer, and wine licenses. Food service requirements are attached to these restaurant licenses. There is no food requirement attached to a tavern license.

Caterer's Endorsement for a Restaurant Liquor License.

The LCB may issue a caterer's endorsement to a restaurant licensee authorized to sell beer, wine, and spirits. The caterer's endorsement allows the restaurant to remove liquor from the restaurant premises for the sale to, and use by, customers at a catered event taking place on a specified date. If the event is open to the public, it must be sponsored by specified categories of non-profit societies or organizations. If attendance at the event is limited to members or invited guests of the sponsoring individual, society, or organization, the requirement that the sponsor must be a specified type of society or organization is waived. The cost of the restaurant caterer's endorsement is three hundred fifty dollars.

The holder of a restaurant license with a catering endorsement shall, if requested by the LCB, notify the board of the date, time, place, and location of any catered event. Upon request, the licensee shall provide to the LCB all necessary or requested information concerning the society or organization that will be holding the function at which the endorsed license will be utilized.

Summary of Bill:

The LCB is authorized to issue a caterer's license to sell spirits, beer, and wine, by the individual serving, at retail, for consumption on the premises at an event location that is either owned, leased, or operated either by the caterer or the sponsor of the event for which catering services are being provided. If the catered event is open to the public, it must be sponsored by a non-profit society or organization that is operated for charitable, religious, social, political, educational, civic, fraternal, athletic or benevolent purposes. If attendance at the event is limited to members or invited guests of the sponsoring individual, society, or organization, the requirement that the sponsor must be a specified type of society or organization is waived. The licensee must serve food as required by rules of the board.

The annual fee is two hundred dollars for the beer license, two hundred dollars for the wine license, or four hundred dollars for a combination beer and wine license. The annual fee for a combined beer, wine, and spirits license is one thousand dollars.

The holder of this license shall, if requested by the board, notify the board or its designee of the date, time, place, and location of any catered event at which liquor will be served.

Employees of a business holding a catering license, and who are at least eighteen years of age, may take orders for, serve, and sell liquor in any part of the licensed premises except those areas that are classified as off-limits to persons under twenty-one years of age (e.g., cocktail lounges, bars, etc.).