The bill aims to establish civil penalties for the unlawful sale or supply of alcohol to minors, amending existing laws to create a more uniform approach to penalties across different occupations. Currently, penalties for store clerks differ significantly from those for servers and bartenders, with store clerks facing gross misdemeanor citations without administrative options. The bill introduces a new section that allows the liquor and cannabis board to impose civil penalties for violations, thereby harmonizing the penalties for store clerks with those for restaurant servers. It retains criminal penalties for intentional or repeat offenses while providing an escalating schedule of monetary fines for violations, which are capped at $200 for the first offense, $400 for a second offense within three years, and $500 for subsequent offenses.

Additionally, the bill modifies the language in RCW 66.44.270 to specify that individuals under the age of 21 are prohibited from possessing or consuming liquor, with the age limit explicitly stated. It also clarifies that civil penalties may be imposed in lieu of criminal citations, ensuring that a civil penalty does not lead to additional criminal enforcement for the same violation. The bill includes provisions for educational classes for retail clerks as an alternative to monetary penalties for first-time violations and allows the board to seek injunctive relief for enforcement. Overall, the legislation seeks to reduce geographic disparities in enforcement and minimize the long-term impact of criminal records on individuals found in violation of alcohol laws.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 66.44.270