HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5813

As Passed House ‑ Amended:

April 4, 2001

Title:  An act relating to the sale of wine for off‑premises consumption.

Brief Description:  Allowing restaurants and private clubs to sell wine for off‑premises consumption.

Sponsors:  By Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Financial Institutions (originally sponsored by Senators Honeyford, Rasmussen, Deccio, McCaslin, Hale, Constantine, Sheahan, Hewitt, Winsley, Prentice and Kohl‑Welles).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Commerce & Labor:  3/21/01 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House ‑ Amended: 4/4/01, 96-0.

  Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

(As Amended by House)

$Creates an endorsement to permit certain license holders to sell limited wines for off-premises consumption.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  Do pass. Signed by 8 members: Representatives Clements, Republican Co‑Chair; Conway, Democratic Co‑Chair; B. Chandler, Republican Vice Chair; Wood, Democratic Vice Chair; Hunt, Kenney, Lisk and McMorris.

Staff:  Sydney Forrester (786‑7120).

Background:

The Liquor Control Board issues a variety of licenses under its regulatory scheme.  Generally, licenses fall into four categories:  manufacture, distribution, retail sales, and by-the-drink sales.  Liquor by-the-drink licenses include a restaurant spirits, beer, and wine license and a private club spirits, beer, and wine license.  These licenses do not authorize the sale of liquor for off-premises consumption.

The board also issues endorsements to existing licenses.  Endorsements grant additional specific privileges to license holders, usually for an additional fee.  These additional privileges may include an authorization to sell liquor for off-premises consumption under limited circumstances.

Occasionally, restaurants and private clubs contract with domestic wineries to produce a limited number of bottled wines bearing a label exclusive to the restaurant or private club.  These private label wines may be sold in speciality and retail shops, however, the restaurant or private club without a separate retail license may not sell these wines.

Summary of Amended Bill:

An endorsement is available to holders of two types of licenses: 1) A restaurant spirits, beer, and wine license; and 2) a private club spirits, beer, and wine license.  The endorsement permits the license holder to sell wine for off-premises consumption.  Bottled wines sold under the endorsement must bear a label exclusive to the license holder and are limited to domestic wines.  The annual fee for the endorsement is $120.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  None.