SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6442

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 Reported by Senate Committee On:

Commerce & Labor, February 7, 2014

Title: An act relating to allowing sales of growlers of cider.

Brief Description: Allowing sales of growlers of cider.

Sponsors: Senators Brown, Hatfield, Schoesler, Hobbs, Honeyford, Hewitt, Kohl-Welles, Keiser, Kline and Rolfes.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Commerce & Labor: 2/05/14, 2/07/14 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6442 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Holmquist Newbry, Chair; Braun, Vice Chair; Conway, Ranking Member; Hasegawa, Hewitt, King and Kohl-Welles.

Staff: Edith Rice (786-7444)

Background: The following licensees are permitted to sell beer in a growler, which is a sanitary container brought to the premises by the purchaser or furnished by the licensee and filled at the tap at the time of sale: domestic breweries and microbreweries holding a spirits, beer, and wine restaurant license able to sell beer of their own production for off-premises consumption; a beer or wine specialty shop licensee with an endorsement to sell growlers; a spirits, beer, or wine restaurant licensee able to sell for off-premises consumption; and hotel licensees.

Cider is a table wine with at least 0.5 percent and up to 7 percent alcohol by volume, and is made from fermenting apples or pears.

Summary of Bill (Recommended Substitute): Licensees that can already sell beer in growlers can also sell cider in growlers.

Licensees must still comply with federal law.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY COMMERCE & LABOR COMMITTEE (Recommended Substitute): Licensees must still comply with federal law.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill: PRO: This allows our customers to bring our product home. It will encourage greater variety. Washington has been in the lead for this product. We have a suggestion to add a reference to federal law.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Mark Kornei, Drew Zimmerman, NW Cider Assn. members; Cindy Zehnder, Total Wine and More; Scott Hazlegrove, WA Beer and Wine Distributors Assn.