The bill amends Washington's liquor laws to introduce new definitions and regulations for low-proof alcoholic beverages, defining a "low-proof beverage" as any beverage that is 16 ounces or less, containing more than 0.5 percent and less than 7 percent alcohol by volume, while excluding wine, malt beverages, or malt liquor. It also updates the definitions of flavored malt beverages and adjusts the maximum alcohol percentages for various categories of beer and wine. The bill aims to modernize liquor regulations to align with current industry standards by clarifying terms related to the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages and removing outdated language.

Additionally, the bill revises the issuance and regulation of spirits retail licenses, establishing that licenses can only be issued for premises of at least 10,000 square feet and clarifying conditions under which licenses can be denied. It introduces a new tax on the distribution and sale of low-proof beverages at a rate of $2.50 per gallon and adjusts existing tax rates for spirits sales, including a 15% tax on retail sales in original packages and a 10% tax for sales to restaurant spirits retailers. The bill also ensures that annual renewal fees for spirits retail and distributor licenses remain comparable to those for beer and wine licenses, enhancing regulatory oversight and generating additional revenue.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 66.04.010, 66.24.630, 66.24.055, 82.08.150