The bill seeks to streamline the sale of wine and spirits in Washington by removing the existing per transaction volume limit of twenty-four liters for various licensees, including combination spirits, beer, and wine licensees, as well as wine retailer reseller endorsements and grocery store licenses. This amendment is designed to facilitate larger sales transactions and enhance the efficiency of the sales process for retailers. Additionally, the bill updates licensing fees, increasing the annual fee for a combination spirits, beer, and wine license to $316 and for a wine retailer reseller endorsement to $110.

Moreover, the bill introduces new requirements for licensees, such as maintaining a minimum inventory of food products or alcoholic beverages and establishing conditions for participation in a responsible vendor program aimed at reducing penalties for violations. It clarifies the licensing process for grocery stores and spirits retailers, ensuring that existing licensed premises are acknowledged in new license applications. The bill also modifies the issuance and regulation of spirits retail licenses, allowing qualified contract liquor stores and former state liquor store operators to obtain licenses without restrictions based on location or size, provided they meet specific criteria. Additionally, it sets a license issuance fee of 17 percent of spirits sales revenues and mandates employee training for those involved in spirits sales, while proposing a responsible vendor program to promote best practices among licensees. Penalties for violations related to spirits sales are doubled, although participants in the responsible vendor program may receive exemptions for a single violation within a designated timeframe.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 66.24.035, 66.24.179, 66.24.360, 66.24.630