SENATE BILL REPORT

 

 

                                    SB 5581

 

 

BYSenators 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)

                  February 27, 1987

 

 

        AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR, FEBRUARY 26, 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.

 

 

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

 

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