FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 1278

PARTIAL VETO

                         C 100 L 97

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Concerning the labeling of malt liquor packages.

Sponsors:  Representatives K. Schmidt, Hatfield, Mitchell, Pennington, Scott, Mielke, Cody, Honeyford and Delvin.

House Committee on Commerce & Labor

Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor

Background:  Labels that appear on bottled malt liquor products must have federal approval and must meet certain state requirements.  State law requires the label to identify the contents, the name of the manufacturer, and the place of manufacture.  Bottles containing malt liquor beverages must use the term beer, ale, malt liquor, stout, or porter. 

The term Amalt beverage@ or Amalt liquor@ includes beer, ale, and lager beer.  There is no authority to use the term Alager@ for labeling purposes or in connection with other malt beverages such as ales.

Summary:  The term Alager@ may appear on labels of malt liquor products.  The term includes all currently identified malt beverages such as beer, ale, lager beer, stout, and porter.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  96 0

Senate 47 0

Effective:July 27,  1997

Partial Veto Summary:  The Governor vetoed the section of the bill that included in the term Alager,@ all currently identified malt beverages such as beer, ale, lager beer, stout and porter.