Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Government Accountability & Oversight Committee

HB 1149

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Increasing the volume of spirits that may be sold per day to a customer of a craft distillery.

Sponsors: Representatives Hurst, Ryu, Hunt and Santos.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Authorizes a craft distillery to sell spirits of its own production for consumption off the premises in an amount up to three liters per person per day.

Hearing Date: 1/22/13

Staff: Thamas Osborn (786-7129).

Background:

Individuals seeking to distill spirits in Washington must obtain a license from the Liquor Control Board (LCB). The annual fee for a distillery license is $2,000 and for a craft distillery the fee is $100. To qualify as a craft distillery, the distiller must produce no more than 60,000 gallons of spirits with at least half of the raw materials used in the production grown in Washington. Craft distilleries can sell spirits of their own production for consumption off the premises in amounts up to two liters per person per day.

"Spirits" means any beverage which contains alcohol obtained by distillation, except flavored malt beverages, but including wines exceeding twenty-four percent of alcohol by volume.

Summary of Bill:

A craft distillery is authorized to sell spirits of its own production for consumption off the premises in an amount up to three liters per person per day.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.