Liquor permits & licensing

AN ACT Relating to updating liquor permit and licensing 1
provisions; amending RCW 66.20.010, 66.20.300, 66.20.310, and 2
66.20.320; and repealing RCW 66.24.580. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 66.20.010 and 2024 c 91 s 1 are each amended to read 5
as follows: 6
Upon application in the prescribed form being made to any 7
employee authorized by the board to issue permits, accompanied by 8
payment of the prescribed fee, and upon the employee being satisfied 9
that the applicant should be granted a permit under this title, the 10
employee must issue to the applicant under such regulations and at 11
such fee as may be prescribed by the board a permit of the class 12
applied for, as follows: 13
(1) Where the application is for a special permit by a physician 14
or dentist, or by any person in charge of an institution regularly 15
conducted as a hospital or sanatorium for the care of persons in ill 16
health, or as a home devoted exclusively to the care of aged people, 17
a special liquor purchase permit, except that the governor may waive 18
the requirement for a special liquor purchase permit under this 19
subsection pursuant to an order issued under RCW 43.06.220(2);20
Z-0009.2
HOUSE BILL 1698
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Waters and Reed; by request of Liquor and Cannabis
Board
Read first time 01/29/25. Referred to Committee on Consumer
Protection & Business.
p. 1 HB 1698
(2) Where the application is for a special permit by a person 1
engaged within the state in mechanical or manufacturing business or 2
in scientific pursuits requiring alcohol for use therein, or by any 3
private individual, a special permit to purchase alcohol for the 4
purpose named in the permit, except that the governor may waive the 5
requirement for a special liquor purchase permit under this 6
subsection pursuant to an order issued under RCW 43.06.220(2);7
(3) Where the application is for a special permit to consume 8
liquor at a banquet, at a specified date and place, a special permit 9
to purchase liquor for consumption at such banquet, to such 10
applicants as may be fixed by the board; 11
(4) Where the application is for a special permit to consume 12
liquor on the premises of a business not licensed under this title, a 13
special permit to purchase liquor for consumption thereon for such 14
periods of time and to such applicants as may be fixed by the board;15
(5) Where the application is for a special permit by a 16
manufacturer to import or purchase within the state alcohol, malt, 17
and other materials containing alcohol to be used in the manufacture 18
of liquor, or other products, a special permit; 19
(6) Where the application is for a special permit by a person 20
operating a drug store to purchase liquor at retail prices only, to 21
be thereafter sold by such person on the prescription of a physician, 22
a special liquor purchase permit, except that the governor may waive 23
the requirement for a special liquor purchase permit under this 24
subsection pursuant to an order issued under RCW 43.06.220(2);25
(7) ((Where the application is for a special permit by an 26
authorized representative of a military installation operated by or 27
for any of the armed forces within the geographical boundaries of the 28
state of Washington, a special permit to purchase liquor for use on 29
such military installation;30
(8))) Where the application is for a special permit by a vendor 31
that manufactures or sells a product which cannot be effectively 32
presented to potential buyers without serving it with liquor or by a 33
manufacturer, importer, or distributor, or representative thereof, to 34
serve liquor without charge to delegates and guests at a convention 35
of a trade association composed of licensees of the board, when the 36
said liquor is served in a hospitality room or from a booth in a 37
board-approved suppliers' display room at the convention, and when 38
the liquor so served is for consumption in the said hospitality room 39
or display room during the convention, anything in this title to the 40
p. 2 HB 1698
contrary notwithstanding. Any such spirituous liquor must be 1
purchased from a spirits retailer or distributor, and any such liquor 2
is subject to the taxes imposed by RCW 82.08.150, 66.24.290, and 3
66.24.210; 4
(((9))) (8) Where the application is for a special permit by a 5
manufacturer, importer, or distributor, or representative thereof, to 6
donate liquor for a reception, breakfast, luncheon, or dinner for 7
delegates and guests at a convention of a trade association composed 8
of licensees of the board, when the liquor so donated is for 9
consumption at the said reception, breakfast, luncheon, or dinner 10
during the convention, anything in this title to the contrary 11
notwithstanding. Any such spirituous liquor must be purchased from a 12
spirits retailer or distributor, and any such liquor is subject to 13
the taxes imposed by RCW 82.08.150, 66.24.290, and 66.24.210;14
(((10))) (9) Where the application is for a special permit by a 15
manufacturer, importer, or distributor, or representative thereof, to 16
donate and/or serve liquor without charge to delegates and guests at 17
an international trade fair, show, or exposition held under the 18
auspices of a federal, state, or local governmental entity or 19
organized and promoted by a nonprofit organization, anything in this 20
title to the contrary notwithstanding. Any such spirituous liquor 21
must be purchased from a liquor spirits retailer or distributor, and 22
any such liquor is subject to the taxes imposed by RCW 82.08.150, 23
66.24.290, and 66.24.210; 24
(((11))) (10) Where the application is for an annual special 25
permit by a person operating a bed and breakfast lodging facility to 26
donate or serve wine or beer without charge to overnight guests of 27
the facility if the wine or beer is for consumption on the premises 28
of the facility. "Bed and breakfast lodging facility," as used in 29
this subsection, means a facility offering from one to eight lodging 30
units and breakfast to travelers and guests; 31
(((12))) (11) Where the application is for a special permit to 32
allow tasting of alcohol by persons at least 18 years of age under 33
the following circumstances: 34
(a) The application is from a community or technical college as 35
defined in RCW 28B.50.030, a regional university, or a state 36
university; 37
(b) The person who is permitted to taste under this subsection is 38
enrolled as a student in a required or elective class that is part of 39
a culinary, sommelier, wine business, enology, viticulture, wine 40
p. 3 HB 1698
technology, beer technology, or spirituous technology-related degree 1
program; 2
(c) The alcohol served to any person in the degree-related 3
programs under (b) of this subsection is tasted but not consumed for 4
the purposes of educational training as part of the class curriculum 5
with the approval of the educational provider; 6
(d) The service and tasting of alcoholic beverages is supervised 7
by a faculty or staff member of the educational provider who is 21 8
years of age or older. The supervising faculty or staff member shall 9
possess a class 12 or 13 alcohol server permit under the provisions 10
of RCW 66.20.310; 11
(e) The enrolled student permitted to taste the alcoholic 12
beverages does not purchase the alcoholic beverages;13
(f) The enrolled student permitted to taste the alcoholic 14
beverages conducts the tasting either: (i) On the premises of the 15
college or university at which the student is enrolled; or (ii) while 16
on a field trip to a grape-growing area or production facility so 17
long as the enrolled student is accompanied by a faculty or staff 18
member with a class 12 or 13 alcohol server permit who supervises as 19
provided in (d) of this subsection and all other requirements of this 20
subsection (((12))) (11) are met; and 21
(g) The permit fee for the special permit provided for in this 22
subsection (((12))) (11) must be waived by the board;23
(((13))) (12) Where the application is for a special permit by a 24
distillery or craft distillery for an event not open to the general 25
public to be held or conducted at a specific place, including at the 26
licensed premise of the applying distillery or craft distillery, upon 27
a specific date for the purpose of tasting and selling spirits of its 28
own production. The distillery or craft distillery must obtain a 29
permit for a fee of $10 per event. An application for the permit must 30
be submitted for private banquet permits prior to the event and, once 31
issued, must be posted in a conspicuous place at the premises for 32
which the permit was issued during all times the permit is in use. No 33
licensee may receive more than 12 permits under this subsection 34
(((13))) each year; 35
(((14))) (13) Where the application is for a special permit by a 36
manufacturer of wine for an event not open to the general public to 37
be held or conducted at a specific place upon a specific date for the 38
purpose of tasting and selling wine of its own production. The winery 39
must obtain a permit for a fee of $10 per event. An application for 40
p. 4 HB 1698
the permit must be submitted at least ten days before the event and 1
once issued, must be posted in a conspicuous place at the premises 2
for which the permit was issued during all times the permit is in 3
use. No more than 12 events per year may be held by a single 4
manufacturer under this subsection; 5
(((15))) (14) Where the application is for a special permit by a 6
manufacturer of beer for an event not open to the general public to 7
be held or conducted at a specific place upon a specific date for the 8
purpose of tasting and selling beer of its own production. The 9
brewery or microbrewery must obtain a permit for a fee of $10 per 10
event. An application for the permit must be submitted at least 10 11
days before the event and, once issued, must be posted in a 12
conspicuous place at the premises for which the permit was issued 13
during all times the permit is in use. No more than 12 events per 14
year may be held by a single manufacturer under this subsection;15
(((16))) (15) Where the application is for a special permit by an 16
individual or business to sell a private collection of wine or 17
spirits to an individual or business. The seller must obtain a permit 18
at least five business days before the sale, for a fee of $25 per 19
sale. The seller must provide an inventory of products sold and the 20
agreed price on a form provided by the board. The seller shall submit 21
the report and taxes due to the board no later than 20 calendar days 22
after the sale. A permit may be issued under this section to allow 23
the sale of a private collection to licensees, but may not be issued 24
to a licensee to sell to a private individual or business which is 25
not otherwise authorized under the license held by the seller. If the 26
liquor is purchased by a licensee, all sales are subject to taxes 27
assessed as on liquor acquired from any other source. The board may 28
adopt rules to implement this section; 29
(((17))) (16)(a) A special permit, where the application is for a 30
special permit by a nonprofit organization to sell wine through an 31
auction, not open to the public, to be conducted at a specific place, 32
upon a specific date, and to allow wine tastings at the auction of 33
the wine to be auctioned. 34
(b) A permit holder under this subsection (((17))) (16) may at 35
the specified event: 36
(i) Sell wine by auction for off-premises consumption; and37
(ii) Allow tastings of samples of the wine to be auctioned at the 38
event. 39
p. 5 HB 1698
(c) An application is required for a permit under this subsection 1
(((17))) (16). The application must be submitted prior to the event 2
and once issued must be posted in a conspicuous place at the premises 3
for which the permit was issued during all times the permit is in 4
use. 5
(d) Wine from more than one winery may be sold at the auction; 6
however, each winery selling wine at the auction must be listed on 7
the permit application. Only a single application form may be 8
required for each auction, regardless of the number of wineries that 9
are selling wine at the auction. The total fee per event for a permit 10
issued under this subsection (((17))) (16) is $25 multiplied by the 11
number of wineries that are selling wine at the auction.12
(e) For the purposes of this subsection (((17))) (16), "nonprofit 13
organization" means an entity incorporated as a nonprofit 14
organization under Washington state law. 15
(f) The board may adopt rules to implement this section;16
(((18))) (17) An annual special permit to allow a short-term 17
rental operator to provide one complimentary bottle of wine to rental 18
guests who are age 21 or over. The annual special permit fee is $75. 19
A single permit applies to all rental properties owned or operated by 20
the short-term rental operator and identified in the permit 21
application. One complimentary bottle of wine per booking may be 22
provided, regardless of the total number of rental guests. The 23
provision of the complimentary bottle of wine may occur only after an 24
operator or staff person of the short-term rental, who is present at 25
the short-term rental property, verifies that each rental guest who 26
will consume the complimentary bottle of wine is age 21 or over by 27
checking a valid form of identification of each such rental guest at 28
the time rental guests arrive. The rental guests must be informed the 29
rental guests are being offered one complimentary bottle of wine and 30
that opening or consuming the bottle of wine in a public place is 31
illegal pursuant to RCW 66.44.100. The rental guests must not have 32
notified the operator that the rental guests decline the 33
complimentary bottle of wine. The complimentary bottle of wine may be 34
consumed on the premises of the rental property or removed and 35
consumed off the premises of the rental property. A permit holder may 36
purchase wine from wine distributors in accordance with RCW 37
66.24.200, and from retailers and other suppliers of wine authorized 38
under this title to sell wine at retail to consumers for off-premises 39
consumption. For purposes of this subsection, the terms "short-term 40
p. 6 HB 1698
rental," "operator," and "guest" have the same meanings as in RCW 1
64.37.010; and 2
(((19))) (18) Where the application is for an emergency liquor 3
permit by a licensed manufacturer to authorize the sale, service, and 4
consumption of liquor on the premises of another liquor licensee with 5
retail sales privileges when an emergency or disaster as defined in 6
RCW 38.52.010 has made the premises of the applicant inaccessible and 7
unable to operate due to an emergency or road closure, except that 8
the fee must be waived if there is a proclamation of a state of 9
emergency issued by the governor or by the city, town, or county 10
where the applicant is located. The permit shall be valid for 30 days 11
and may be continually renewed for periods of 30 days if the 12
emergency or disaster continues. Employees or agents of the emergency 13
permit holder or the licensed premises may serve liquor provided by 14
the permit holder. The permit holder may store no more than a 30-day 15
supply of liquor at the licensed premises in segregated storage. No 16
more than a total of three emergency permit holders may sell at the 17
same licensed premises under an emergency permit. 18
Sec. 2. RCW 66.20.300 and 2019 c 64 s 20 are each amended to 19
read as follows: 20
The definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 66.20.310 21
through 66.20.350 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.22
(1) "Alcohol" has the same meaning as "liquor" in RCW 66.04.010.23
(2) "Alcohol server" means any person who as part of ((his or 24
her)) their employment participates in the sale or service of 25
alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption at ((a retail 26
licensed premise )) an on-premises licensed facility as a regular 27
requirement of ((his or her )) their employment, and includes those 28
persons eighteen years of age or older permitted by the liquor laws 29
of this state to serve alcoholic beverages with meals.30
(3) (("Board" means the Washington state liquor and cannabis 31
board.32
(4) "Retail licensed premises" )) "On-premises licensed facility" 33
means any: 34
(a) Premises ((licensed)) issued an annual license to sell or 35
serve alcohol by the glass or by the drink, or in original containers 36
primarily for consumption on the premises , or a premises holding a 37
privilege for on-premises tasting activities, as authorized by this 38
((section and RCW 66.20.310, 66.24.320, 66.24.330, 66.24.350, 39
p. 7 HB 1698
66.24.400, 66.24.425, 66.24.690, 66.24.450, 66.24.570, 66.24.610, 1
66.24.650, 66.24.655, and 66.24.680)) title; 2
(b) Distillery licensed pursuant to RCW 66.24.140 that is 3
authorized to serve samples of its own production; 4
(c) Facility established by a domestic winery for serving and 5
selling wine pursuant to RCW 66.24.170(4); ((and))6
(d) Brewery or microbrewery authorized to serve or sell beer or 7
other liquor under RCW 66.24.240 or 66.24.244;8
(e) Grocery store licensed under RCW 66.24.360, but only with 9
respect to employees whose duties include serving during tasting 10
activities under RCW 66.24.363;11
(f) Beer and/or wine specialty shop licensed under RCW 66.24.371, 12
but only with respect to employees whose duties include serving 13
during tasting activities;14
(g) Spirit retailers licensed under RCW 66.24.630 or 66.24.632, 15
but only with respect to employees whose duties include serving 16
during tasting activities. 17
(((5))) (4) "Training entity" means any liquor licensee 18
associations, independent contractors, private persons, and private 19
or public schools, that have been certified by the board.20
Sec. 3. RCW 66.20.310 and 2024 c 265 s 1 are each amended to 21
read as follows: 22
(1)(a) There is an alcohol server permit, known as a class 12 23
permit, for: 24
(i) A manager; 25
(ii) A bartender selling or mixing alcohol, spirits, wines, or 26
beer for consumption at an on-premises licensed facility; or27
(iii) An employee conducting alcohol deliveries for a licensee 28
that delivers alcohol under RCW 66.24.710. 29
(b) There is an alcohol server permit, known as a class 13 30
permit, for a person who only serves alcohol, spirits, wines, or beer 31
for consumption at an on-premises licensed facility.32
(c) As provided by rule by the board, a class 13 permit holder 33
may be allowed to act as a bartender without holding a class 12 34
permit. 35
(2)(a) Effective January 1, 1997, except as provided in (d) of 36
this subsection, every alcohol server employed, under contract or 37
otherwise, at ((a retail licensed premise )) an on-premises licensed 38
facility must be issued a class 12 or class 13 permit.39
p. 8 HB 1698
(b) Every class 12 and class 13 permit issued must be issued in 1
the name of the applicant and no other person may use the permit of 2
another permit holder. The holder must present the permit upon 3
request to inspection by a representative of the board or a peace 4
officer. The class 12 or class 13 permit is valid for employment at 5
any ((retail licensed premises )) on-premises licensed facility 6
described in (a) of this subsection. 7
(c) Except as provided in (d) of this subsection, no licensee of 8
an on-premises licensed facility holding a license as authorized by 9
this ((section and RCW 66.20.300, 66.24.320, 66.24.330, 66.24.350, 10
66.24.400, 66.24.425, 66.24.690, 66.24.450, 66.24.570, 66.24.600, 11
66.24.610, 66.24.650, 66.24.655, and 66.24.680)) title may employ or 12
accept the services of any person whose duties include the 13
compounding, sale, service, or handling of liquor without the person 14
first having a valid class 12 or class 13 permit. 15
(d) Within sixty days of initial employment, every person whose 16
duties include the compounding, sale, service, or handling of liquor 17
must have a class 12 or class 13 permit. 18
(e) No person may perform duties that include the sale or service 19
of alcoholic beverages ((on a retail licensed premises )) at an on-20
premises licensed facility without possessing a valid alcohol server 21
permit. 22
(f) Every person whose duties include the delivery of alcohol 23
authorized under RCW 66.24.710 must have a class 12 permit before 24
engaging in alcohol delivery. A delivery employee whose duties 25
include the delivery of alcohol authorized under RCW 66.24.710 must 26
complete an approved class 12 permit course that includes a 27
curriculum component that covers best practices for delivery of 28
alcohol. 29
(3) A permit issued by a training entity under this section is 30
valid for employment at any ((retail licensed premises )) on-premises 31
licensed facility described in subsection (2)(a) of this section for 32
a period of five years unless suspended by the board.33
(4) The board may suspend or revoke an existing permit if any of 34
the following occur: 35
(a) The applicant or permittee has been convicted of violating 36
any of the state or local intoxicating liquor laws of this state, has 37
been convicted at any time of a felony under chapter 9A.40, 9A.44, 38
9A.46, 9A.86, or 9A.88 RCW, or a felony that is directly related to 39
alcohol service; or 40
p. 9 HB 1698
(b) The permittee has performed or permitted any act that 1
constitutes a violation of this title or of any rule of the board.2
(5) The suspension or revocation of a permit under this section 3
does not relieve a licensee from responsibility for any act of the 4
employee or agent while employed upon the ((retail licensed 5
premises)) on-premises licensed facility . The board may, as 6
appropriate, revoke or suspend either the permit of the employee who 7
committed the violation or the license of the licensee upon whose 8
premises the violation occurred, or both the permit and the license.9
(6)(a) After January 1, 1997, it is a violation of this title for 10
any ((retail)) on-premises licensed facility licensee or agent of a 11
((retail licensee )) on-premises licensed facility as described in 12
subsection (2)(a) of this section to employ in the sale or service of 13
alcoholic beverages, any person who does not have a valid alcohol 14
server permit or whose permit has been revoked, suspended, or denied.15
(b) It is a violation of this title for a person whose alcohol 16
server permit has been denied, suspended, or revoked to accept 17
employment in the sale or service of alcoholic beverages.18
(7) Grocery stores licensed under RCW 66.24.360, the primary 19
commercial activity of which is the sale of grocery products and for 20
which the sale and service of beer and wine for on-premises 21
consumption with food is incidental to the primary business, and 22
employees of such establishments, are exempt from RCW 66.20.300 23
through 66.20.350, except for employees whose duties include serving 24
during tasting activities under RCW 66.24.363. 25
Sec. 4. RCW 66.20.320 and 2023 c 279 s 4 are each amended to 26
read as follows: 27
(1) The board shall regulate a required alcohol server education 28
program that includes: 29
(a) Development of the curriculum and materials for the education 30
program; 31
(b) Examination and examination procedures; 32
(c) Certification procedures, enforcement policies, and penalties 33
for education program instructors and providers; and34
(d) The curriculum for an approved class 12 alcohol permit 35
training program that includes but is not limited to the following 36
subjects: 37
(i) The physiological effects of alcohol including the effects of 38
alcohol in combination with drugs; 39
p. 10 HB 1698
(ii) Liability and legal information; 1
(iii) Driving while intoxicated; 2
(iv) Intervention with the problem customer, including ways to 3
stop service, ways to deal with the belligerent customer, and 4
alternative means of transportation to get the customer safely home;5
(v) Methods for checking proper identification of customers;6
(vi) Nationally recognized programs, such as TAM (Techniques in 7
Alcohol Management) and TIPS (Training for Intervention Programs) 8
modified to include Washington laws and rules; and 9
(vii) Best practices for delivery of alcohol for a course 10
approved for a person whose duties include the delivery of alcohol 11
authorized under RCW 66.24.710. 12
(2) The board shall provide the program through liquor licensee 13
associations, independent contractors, private persons, private or 14
public schools certified by the board, or any combination of such 15
providers. 16
(3) Each training entity shall provide a class 12 permit to the 17
manager, bartender, or delivery employee who has successfully 18
completed a course the board has certified. A list of the individuals 19
receiving the class 12 permit shall be forwarded to the board on the 20
completion of each course given by the training entity.21
(4) ((After January 1, 1997, the board shall require all alcohol 22
servers applying for a class 13 alcohol server permit to view a video 23
training session. Retail liquor licensees shall fully compensate 24
employees for the time spent participating in this training session.25
(5) When requested by a retail liquor licensee, the board shall 26
provide copies of videotaped training programs that have been 27
produced by private vendors and make them available for a nominal fee 28
to cover the cost of purchasing and shipment, with the fees being 29
deposited in the liquor revolving fund for distribution to the board 30
as needed.31
(6) Each training entity may provide the board with a video 32
program of not less than one hour that covers the subjects in 33
subsection (1)(d)(i) through (v) of this section that will be made 34
available to a licensee for the training of a class 13 alcohol 35
server.36
(7))) Applicants shall be given a class 13 permit upon the 37
successful completion of the program. 38
p. 11 HB 1698
(((8))) (5) A list of the individuals receiving the class 13 1
permit shall be forwarded to the board on the completion of each 2
video training program. 3
(((9))) (6) The board shall develop a model permit for the class 4
12 and 13 permits. The board may provide such permits to training 5
entities or licensees for a nominal cost to cover production.6
(((10))) (7)(a) Persons who have completed a nationally 7
recognized alcohol management or intervention program since July 1, 8
1993, may be issued a class 12 or 13 permit upon providing proof of 9
completion of such training to the board. 10
(b) Persons who completed the board's alcohol server training 11
program after July 1, 1993, but before July 1, 1995, may be issued a 12
class 13 permit upon providing proof of completion of such training 13
to the board. 14
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. RCW 66.24.580 (Public house license— Fees— 15
Limitations) and 2021 c 6 s 13, 2011 c 119 s 206, 1999 c 281 s 6, & 16
1996 c 224 s 2 are each repealed.17
--- END ---
p. 12 HB 1698