(1) The liquor and cannabis board has the responsibility to classify what licensed premises or what portions of the licensed premises are off-limits to minors. (RCW 66.44.310(2).) Minors may not purchase, possess, or consume liquor, and may not enter any areas that are classified as off-limits to minors. (RCW 66.44.290 and 66.44.310.) The purpose of this rule is to clarify the ways in which licensees can prevent minors from consuming alcohol or entering restricted areas.

(2) Dedicated dining areas - If a spirits, beer, and wine restaurant licensee or a beer and wine restaurant licensee that allows minors chooses to have live music, Karaoke, patron dancing, live entertainment, or contests involving physical participation by patrons in the dedicated dining area after 11:00 p.m., the licensee must either:

(a) Request board approval to reclassify the dining area to a lounge for the period of time that live entertainment is conducted, thus restricting minors during that time; or

(b) Notify the board's licensing and regulation division in writing at least forty-eight hours in advance that the sale, service, and consumption of liquor will end in the dedicated dining area after 11:00 p.m.

Request or notifications may cover one event or a series of recurring events over a period of time.

(3) Barriers - Licensees must place barriers around areas that are classified as off-limits to minors and around game rooms.

(a) The barriers must clearly separate restricted areas, and must be at least forty-two inches high.

(b) The barriers must be permanently affixed (folding or retractable doors or other barriers that are permanently affixed are acceptable). A portable or moveable rope and stanchion is not acceptable. Those licensees that have been approved by the board for moveable barriers prior to the effective date of this rule may keep their moveable barriers until the licensee requests alterations to the premises or the premises change ownership.

(c) Structures where customers can sit or stand and consume food or liquor are not acceptable as a barrier.

(d) Entrances to restricted areas may not be wider than ten feet. If a licensee has more than one entrance along one wall, the total entrance areas may not exceed ten feet.

(e) "Minor prohibited" signs, as required by WAC 314-11-060(1), must be posted at each entrance to restricted areas.

(4) If the business allows minors, the business's primary entrance must open directly into a dedicated dining area or into a neutral area, such as a lobby or foyer, that leads directly to a dedicated dining area. Minors must be able to access restrooms without passing through a lounge or other age-restricted area.

(5) Floor plans - When applying for a license, the applicant must provide to the board's licensing and regulation division two copies of a detailed drawing of the entire premises. The drawing must:

(a) Be drawn one foot to one-quarter-inch scale;

(b) Have all rooms labeled according to their use; e.g., dining room, lounge, game room, kitchen, etc.; and

(c) Have all barriers labeled in a descriptive way; e.g., "full wall," "half wall," etc.

(6) Convention centers - To qualify for a convention center there must be two or more rooms that provide space and accommodations for private events only. Licensees holding a convention center may only sell alcohol for private events at the licensed premises.