(1) What is the purpose of the rules concerning chronic public inebriation and alcohol impact areas?

(a) The enabling statutes for the board are contained in chapter 66.08 RCW. These statutes authorize the board to exercise the police powers of the state for the protection of the welfare, health, peace, and safety of the people of Washington.

(b) The board's mandate to protect the welfare, health, peace, and safety of the people is to ensure that a liquor licensee conducts their business in a lawful manner and that the presence of a licensee's liquor sales does not unreasonably disturb the welfare, health, peace or safety of the surrounding community.

(c) The purpose of the rules concerning chronic public inebriation and alcohol impact areas is to establish a framework under which the board, in partnership with local government and community organizations, may act to mitigate negative impacts on a community's welfare, health, peace or safety that result from the presence of chronic public inebriation.

(d) For the purpose of these rules, chronic public inebriation exists when the effects of the public consumption of liquor or public intoxication occur in concentrations that endanger the welfare, health, peace or safety of a neighborhood or community.

(2) What do the rules concerning chronic public inebriation and alcohol impact areas seek to do? WAC 314-12-210 and 314-12-215 seek to:

(a) Establish an expanded local review process for liquor license applications, license assumptions, and renewals of active liquor licenses for businesses located within a recognized alcohol impact area;

(b) Establish standards under which the board may refuse to issue a liquor license; may refuse to permit a license assumption or renewal of a liquor license; may place conditions or restrictions upon the issuance, assumption or renewal of a license; or may place conditions or restrictions on an existing license located within the geographical boundaries of a recognized alcohol impact area; and

(c) Allow the board in specific circumstances to restrict the off-premises sale of certain liquor products or liquor product containers inside a recognized alcohol impact area.