HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                     HB 1847

Brief Description:  Allowing wine manufacturers that manufacture other liquors to sell the manufacturer=s liquor products on its licensed premises.

Sponsors:  Representatives Honeyford, McMorris and Dunn

                  Hearing:  February 19, 1997

BACKGROUND:

The sale of spirituous liquor by the bottle to the public is controlled by the Liquor Control Board.  The Board operates liquor stores throughout the state where the public may purchase bottled liquor.  In communities where no liquor store is located, the Board may appoint liquor vendors who may sell spirituous liquor to the public in the same manner as a state liquor store.

Certain wineries produce a product that is over 24 percent of alcohol by volume making the product a spirituous liquor.  The winery is appointed as a liquor vendor allowing it to sell its own product at its licensed premises only.

The Attorney General issued an opinion in February, 1996, interpreting the Board=s authority to appoint wineries as liquor vendors for the sale of their own product on their licensed premises.  The Attorney General concluded that the Board does not have authority to appoint a winery or a brewery to act as a liquor vendor in this manner.  Wine products that qualify as spirituous liquor may not be sold at the winery.

SUMMARY OF BILL:

The Liquor Control Board may appoint as a liquor vendor, a licensed manufacturer that also manufactures liquor products other than wine, to sell its own liquor products at its licensed location.

RULES AUTHORITY:  The bill does not contain provisions addressing the rule-making powers of an agency.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.