Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Regulated Substances & Gaming Committee
HB 1299
Brief Description: Concerning workforce development in the beverage alcohol industry.
Sponsors: Representatives Chambers, Wylie, Robertson, Cheney and Reed.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Allows employees and interns of certain liquor licensees who are between 18 and 21 years of age to engage in the manufacture and production of liquor under specified conditions.
Hearing Date: 1/9/24
Staff: Matt Sterling (786-7289).
Background:

Under certain specified circumstances, certain liquor licensees may employ interns or employees between the ages of 18 and 21 to hold, handle, transport, or otherwise possess liquor.  A non-retail class licensee is permitted to allow an employee between the ages of 18 and 21 to stock, merchandise, and handle liquor if a person 21 years of age or older is on duty supervising.

 

A domestic winery licensee may allow employees and interns between 18 and 21 years old to engage in wine production-related work at the domestic winery's licensed location, so long as the intern is enrolled as a student at a community or technical college, regional university, or state university that holds a special permit for this purpose issued by the Liquor and Cannabis Board.  The intern must also be enrolled in a required or elective class as part of a culinary, sommelier, wine business, enology, viticulture, wine technology, beer technology, or spirituous technology-related degree program.  A domestic winery or non-retail class liquor licensee is solely responsible for any act or omission of their employee or intern that occurs at or on the licensee's premises that violates liquor laws. 
Summary of Bill:

Employees and interns of all liquor licensees with privileges for manufacturing or producing beer, wine, spirits, or any type of liquor who are between 18 and 21 years old may engage in the manufacture and production of liquor at the licensed location under certain circumstances. 

 

The employees and interns of such licensees that are under 21 years of age may only work in the licensee's production facility if there is a person 21 years of age or older that is on duty supervising such activities.  Interns of a licensee must be a student at a college or university that holds a special permit as part of a degree program and be enrolled in a class as part of a culinary, sommelier, wine business, enology, viticulture, wine technology, beer technology, or spirituous technology related degree program.  An employee under 21 years of age engaging in the manufacture and production of liquor is not authorized to sell or serve liquor.
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.