Liquor licensee events

AN ACT Relating to events conducted by liquor manufacturers and 1
retailers; and amending RCW 66.20.010. 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
Sec. 1. RCW 66.20.010 and 2024 c 91 s 1 are each amended to read 4
as follows: 5
Upon application in the prescribed form being made to any 6
employee authorized by the board to issue permits, accompanied by 7
payment of the prescribed fee, and upon the employee being satisfied 8
that the applicant should be granted a permit under this title, the 9
employee must issue to the applicant under such regulations and at 10
such fee as may be prescribed by the board a permit of the class 11
applied for, as follows: 12
(1) Where the application is for a special permit by a physician 13
or dentist, or by any person in charge of an institution regularly 14
conducted as a hospital or sanatorium for the care of persons in ill 15
health, or as a home devoted exclusively to the care of aged people, 16
a special liquor purchase permit, except that the governor may waive 17
the requirement for a special liquor purchase permit under this 18
subsection pursuant to an order issued under RCW 43.06.220(2);19
(2) Where the application is for a special permit by a person 20
engaged within the state in mechanical or manufacturing business or 21
H-0633.2
HOUSE BILL 1719
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representative Abbarno
Read first time 01/29/25. Referred to Committee on Consumer
Protection & Business.
p. 1 HB 1719
in scientific pursuits requiring alcohol for use therein, or by any 1
private individual, a special permit to purchase alcohol for the 2
purpose named in the permit, except that the governor may waive the 3
requirement for a special liquor purchase permit under this 4
subsection pursuant to an order issued under RCW 43.06.220(2);5
(3) Where the application is for a special permit to consume 6
liquor at a banquet, at a specified date and place, a special permit 7
to purchase liquor for consumption at such banquet, to such 8
applicants as may be fixed by the board; 9
(4) Where the application is for a special permit to consume 10
liquor on the premises of a business not licensed under this title, a 11
special permit to purchase liquor for consumption thereon for such 12
periods of time and to such applicants as may be fixed by the board;13
(5) Where the application is for a special permit by a 14
manufacturer to import or purchase within the state alcohol, malt, 15
and other materials containing alcohol to be used in the manufacture 16
of liquor, or other products, a special permit; 17
(6) Where the application is for a special permit by a person 18
operating a drug store to purchase liquor at retail prices only, to 19
be thereafter sold by such person on the prescription of a physician, 20
a special liquor purchase permit, except that the governor may waive 21
the requirement for a special liquor purchase permit under this 22
subsection pursuant to an order issued under RCW 43.06.220(2);23
(7) Where the application is for a special permit by an 24
authorized representative of a military installation operated by or 25
for any of the armed forces within the geographical boundaries of the 26
state of Washington, a special permit to purchase liquor for use on 27
such military installation; 28
(8) Where the application is for a special permit by a vendor 29
that manufactures or sells a product which cannot be effectively 30
presented to potential buyers without serving it with liquor or by a 31
manufacturer, importer, or distributor, or representative thereof, to 32
serve liquor without charge to delegates and guests at a convention 33
of a trade association composed of licensees of the board, when the 34
said liquor is served in a hospitality room or from a booth in a 35
board-approved suppliers' display room at the convention, and when 36
the liquor so served is for consumption in the said hospitality room 37
or display room during the convention, anything in this title to the 38
contrary notwithstanding. Any such spirituous liquor must be 39
purchased from a spirits retailer or distributor, and any such liquor 40
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is subject to the taxes imposed by RCW 82.08.150, 66.24.290, and 1
66.24.210; 2
(9) Where the application is for a special permit by a 3
manufacturer, importer, or distributor, or representative thereof, to 4
donate liquor for a reception, breakfast, luncheon, or dinner for 5
delegates and guests at a convention of a trade association composed 6
of licensees of the board, when the liquor so donated is for 7
consumption at the said reception, breakfast, luncheon, or dinner 8
during the convention, anything in this title to the contrary 9
notwithstanding. Any such spirituous liquor must be purchased from a 10
spirits retailer or distributor, and any such liquor is subject to 11
the taxes imposed by RCW 82.08.150, 66.24.290, and 66.24.210;12
(10) Where the application is for a special permit by a 13
manufacturer, importer, or distributor, or representative thereof, to 14
donate and/or serve liquor without charge to delegates and guests at 15
an international trade fair, show, or exposition held under the 16
auspices of a federal, state, or local governmental entity or 17
organized and promoted by a nonprofit organization, anything in this 18
title to the contrary notwithstanding. Any such spirituous liquor 19
must be purchased from a liquor spirits retailer or distributor, and 20
any such liquor is subject to the taxes imposed by RCW 82.08.150, 21
66.24.290, and 66.24.210; 22
(11) Where the application is for an annual special permit by a 23
person operating a bed and breakfast lodging facility to donate or 24
serve wine or beer without charge to overnight guests of the facility 25
if the wine or beer is for consumption on the premises of the 26
facility. "Bed and breakfast lodging facility," as used in this 27
subsection, means a facility offering from one to eight lodging units 28
and breakfast to travelers and guests; 29
(12) Where the application is for a special permit to allow 30
tasting of alcohol by persons at least 18 years of age under the 31
following circumstances: 32
(a) The application is from a community or technical college as 33
defined in RCW 28B.50.030, a regional university, or a state 34
university; 35
(b) The person who is permitted to taste under this subsection is 36
enrolled as a student in a required or elective class that is part of 37
a culinary, sommelier, wine business, enology, viticulture, wine 38
technology, beer technology, or spirituous technology-related degree 39
program; 40
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(c) The alcohol served to any person in the degree-related 1
programs under (b) of this subsection is tasted but not consumed for 2
the purposes of educational training as part of the class curriculum 3
with the approval of the educational provider; 4
(d) The service and tasting of alcoholic beverages is supervised 5
by a faculty or staff member of the educational provider who is 21 6
years of age or older. The supervising faculty or staff member shall 7
possess a class 12 or 13 alcohol server permit under the provisions 8
of RCW 66.20.310; 9
(e) The enrolled student permitted to taste the alcoholic 10
beverages does not purchase the alcoholic beverages;11
(f) The enrolled student permitted to taste the alcoholic 12
beverages conducts the tasting either: (i) On the premises of the 13
college or university at which the student is enrolled; or (ii) while 14
on a field trip to a grape-growing area or production facility so 15
long as the enrolled student is accompanied by a faculty or staff 16
member with a class 12 or 13 alcohol server permit who supervises as 17
provided in (d) of this subsection and all other requirements of this 18
subsection (12) are met; and 19
(g) The permit fee for the special permit provided for in this 20
subsection (12) must be waived by the board; 21
(13) Where the application is for a special permit by a 22
distillery or craft distillery for an event not open to the general 23
public to be held or conducted at a specific place, including at the 24
licensed premise of the applying distillery or craft distillery, upon 25
a specific date for the purpose of tasting and selling spirits of its 26
own production. The distillery or craft distillery must obtain a 27
permit for a fee of $10 per event. An application for the permit must 28
be submitted for private banquet permits prior to the event and, once 29
issued, must be posted in a conspicuous place at the premises for 30
which the permit was issued during all times the permit is in use. No 31
licensee may receive more than 12 permits under this subsection (13) 32
each year; 33
(14) Where the application is for a special permit by a 34
manufacturer of wine for an event not open to the general public to 35
be held or conducted at a specific place upon a specific date for the 36
purpose of tasting and selling wine of its own production. The winery 37
must obtain a permit for a fee of $10 per event. An application for 38
the permit must be submitted at least ((ten)) 10 days before the 39
event and once issued, must be posted in a conspicuous place at the 40
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premises for which the permit was issued during all times the permit 1
is in use. No more than 12 events per year may be held by a single 2
manufacturer under this subsection; 3
(15) Where the application is for a special permit by a 4
manufacturer of beer for an event not open to the general public to 5
be held or conducted at a specific place upon a specific date for the 6
purpose of tasting and selling beer of its own production. The 7
brewery or microbrewery must obtain a permit for a fee of $10 per 8
event. An application for the permit must be submitted at least 10 9
days before the event and, once issued, must be posted in a 10
conspicuous place at the premises for which the permit was issued 11
during all times the permit is in use. No more than 12 events per 12
year may be held by a single manufacturer under this subsection;13
(16) Where the application is for a special permit by an 14
individual or business to sell a private collection of wine or 15
spirits to an individual or business. The seller must obtain a permit 16
at least five business days before the sale, for a fee of $25 per 17
sale. The seller must provide an inventory of products sold and the 18
agreed price on a form provided by the board. The seller shall submit 19
the report and taxes due to the board no later than 20 calendar days 20
after the sale. A permit may be issued under this section to allow 21
the sale of a private collection to licensees, but may not be issued 22
to a licensee to sell to a private individual or business which is 23
not otherwise authorized under the license held by the seller. If the 24
liquor is purchased by a licensee, all sales are subject to taxes 25
assessed as on liquor acquired from any other source. The board may 26
adopt rules to implement this section; 27
(17)(a) A special permit, where the application is for a special 28
permit by a nonprofit organization to sell wine through an auction, 29
not open to the public, to be conducted at a specific place, upon a 30
specific date, and to allow wine tastings at the auction of the wine 31
to be auctioned. 32
(b) A permit holder under this subsection (17) may at the 33
specified event: 34
(i) Sell wine by auction for off-premises consumption; and35
(ii) Allow tastings of samples of the wine to be auctioned at the 36
event. 37
(c) An application is required for a permit under this subsection 38
(17). The application must be submitted prior to the event and once 39
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issued must be posted in a conspicuous place at the premises for 1
which the permit was issued during all times the permit is in use.2
(d) Wine from more than one winery may be sold at the auction; 3
however, each winery selling wine at the auction must be listed on 4
the permit application. Only a single application form may be 5
required for each auction, regardless of the number of wineries that 6
are selling wine at the auction. The total fee per event for a permit 7
issued under this subsection (17) is $25 multiplied by the number of 8
wineries that are selling wine at the auction. 9
(e) For the purposes of this subsection (17), "nonprofit 10
organization" means an entity incorporated as a nonprofit 11
organization under Washington state law. 12
(f) The board may adopt rules to implement this section;13
(18) An annual special permit to allow a short-term rental 14
operator to provide one complimentary bottle of wine to rental guests 15
who are age 21 or over. The annual special permit fee is $75. A 16
single permit applies to all rental properties owned or operated by 17
the short-term rental operator and identified in the permit 18
application. One complimentary bottle of wine per booking may be 19
provided, regardless of the total number of rental guests. The 20
provision of the complimentary bottle of wine may occur only after an 21
operator or staff person of the short-term rental, who is present at 22
the short-term rental property, verifies that each rental guest who 23
will consume the complimentary bottle of wine is age 21 or over by 24
checking a valid form of identification of each such rental guest at 25
the time rental guests arrive. The rental guests must be informed the 26
rental guests are being offered one complimentary bottle of wine and 27
that opening or consuming the bottle of wine in a public place is 28
illegal pursuant to RCW 66.44.100. The rental guests must not have 29
notified the operator that the rental guests decline the 30
complimentary bottle of wine. The complimentary bottle of wine may be 31
consumed on the premises of the rental property or removed and 32
consumed off the premises of the rental property. A permit holder may 33
purchase wine from wine distributors in accordance with RCW 34
66.24.200, and from retailers and other suppliers of wine authorized 35
under this title to sell wine at retail to consumers for off-premises 36
consumption. For purposes of this subsection, the terms "short-term 37
rental," "operator," and "guest" have the same meanings as in RCW 38
64.37.010; ((and))39
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(19) Where the application is for an emergency liquor permit by a 1
licensed manufacturer to authorize the sale, service, and consumption 2
of liquor on the premises of another liquor licensee with retail 3
sales privileges when an emergency or disaster as defined in RCW 4
38.52.010 has made the premises of the applicant inaccessible and 5
unable to operate due to an emergency or road closure, except that 6
the fee must be waived if there is a proclamation of a state of 7
emergency issued by the governor or by the city, town, or county 8
where the applicant is located. The permit shall be valid for 30 days 9
and may be continually renewed for periods of 30 days if the 10
emergency or disaster continues. Employees or agents of the emergency 11
permit holder or the licensed premises may serve liquor provided by 12
the permit holder. The permit holder may store no more than a 30-day 13
supply of liquor at the licensed premises in segregated storage. No 14
more than a total of three emergency permit holders may sell at the 15
same licensed premises under an emergency permit; and16
(20)(a) Where the application is for a special permit by a 17
manufacturer or retailer of beer, wine, or spirits for an event that 18
may be open to the general public, to be held or conducted at a 19
specific place upon a specific date or dates, for the purpose of 20
tasting and selling liquor of the manufacturer's own production or 21
liquor the retailer is authorized to sell. An application must 22
demonstrate that the city, town, or county in which the proposed 23
place is located approves of the event. County approval may be 24
provided only for a proposed location in unincorporated areas of the 25
county. An event map and an event operating plan are required with an 26
application under (b) and (c) of this subsection (20). The 27
manufacturer or retailer must obtain a permit for a fee of $10 per 28
event. An application for the permit must be submitted at least 30 29
days before the event and, once issued, must be posted in a 30
conspicuous place at the premises for which the permit was issued 31
during all times the permit is in use. No more than 12 events per 32
year may be held by a single manufacturer or retailer under this 33
subsection. A single event may last up to three consecutive days. 34
Mandatory alcohol server training is required for all staff.35
(b) An event map must include information required by the board 36
including, but not limited to, the boundaries, public entrances and 37
cross streets, alcohol service areas, seating areas, food service 38
areas if applicable, and security checkpoints.39
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(c) An event operating plan must include at a minimum the 1
following components:2
(i) How the applicant will prevent the sale and service of 3
alcohol to persons under 21 years of age and those who appear to be 4
intoxicated;5
(ii) The ratio of alcohol service staff and security staff to the 6
anticipated number of attendees, subject to a ratio requirement to be 7
established by the board;8
(iii) Training provided to staff who serve, regulate, or 9
supervise the service of alcohol;10
(iv) The facility's policy on the number of alcoholic beverages 11
that will be served to an individual patron during one transaction, 12
subject to a transaction limit to be established by the board in 13
rule; and14
(v) Other standards established by the board in rule.15
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