SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5581

BYSenate Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by  Senators Moore, Warnke, Barr, Williams, West, Sellar, Vognild, Benitz and Tanner)

Revising provisions relating to licensed beer retailers.

Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 26, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5581 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Warnke, Chairman; Smitherman, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Cantu, Lee, Sellar, Vognild, West, Williams, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Patrick Woods (786-7430)

                  March 16, 1987

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 13, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Currently, an establishment having a class F wine retailers license, whose business is primarily the sale of wine is permitted to provide free of charge to customers single serving wine samples of two ounces or less for the purposes of sales promotion.  The authority to provide beer samples is not extended to establishments with class E beer retailers licenses.

"Pasteurized beer" is defined by the Liquor Board as beer which has been subject to a process whereby all yeast or micro-organisms are destroyed or removed preventing any further fermentation of the beer.

The Board, by administrative rule, limits the maximum container size of packaged beer to 170 fluid ounces.

SUMMARY:

Establishments having class E beer retailers licenses and whose business is primarily the sale of beer or wine are permitted to provide free of charge to customers single serving beer samples of two ounces or less for the purposes of sales promotion.

The definition of "pasteurized beer" is expanded to include bottled conditioned beer which has been fermented partially or completely in its sales container and which may contain residual active yeast.  The maximum container size for bottled conditioned beer is 170 fluid ounces.

The cost of beer sampling conducted by retail establishments may not be borne by a manufacturer, importer, or wholesaler.

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Jim Halstrom, Pacific NW Brewers; Mike Hale, Hales Ale