Title: An act relating to courses of instruction on beer, wine, and spiritous liquor.

Brief Description: Authorizing licensees and managers to conduct courses of instruction on beer and wine and furnish beer and wine samples.

Sponsors: House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Wood, Condotta, Campbell and Chase).

Brief History: Passed House: 3/08/05, 97-1.

Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce, Research & Development: 3/21/05, 3/28/05 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Parlette, Ranking Minority Member; Brown, Hewitt, Honeyford and Keiser.

Staff: Jennifer Strus (786-7316)

Background: Washington generally prohibits breweries, distilleries, wineries, and other producers or distributors of alcohol from furnishing wine, beer, and spirits free of charge. However, there are several exceptions to this prohibition. Breweries, distilleries, wineries, and other producers, or distributors or their agents, are permitted to furnish alcohol free of charge to liquor license holders in conjunction with educational courses of instruction that these producers or distributors conduct relating to their products. These educational programs include: instruction regarding the history, nature, values, and characteristics of beer, wine, or spirits; the use of wine lists; and methods of presenting, serving, storing, and handling the beer, wine, or spirits.

Summary of Bill: Beer and wine restaurant licensees and spirits, beer, and wine restaurant licensees, or their managers, are permitted to conduct courses of instruction regarding beer, wine, and spirits, as applicable, for their employees, and provide samples of beer, wine, and spirits free of charge, as applicable, as part of this course of instruction. The alcohol used for sampling must be alcohol that the licensee obtains under its license. The courses of instruction must be given on the license holder's premises.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: A number of licensees have had difficulty getting distributors to provide educational instruction on beer, wine, and spirits to wait staff. This bill would allow the licensee or manager to provide the instruction on the licensee's premises. The bill was narrowed in scope in working with the stakeholders and in its current form, addresses the concerns that were raised in previous versions. Anyone participating in the instructional course would have to be 21 years of age.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Michael Transue, Washington Restaurant Association.