(1) There is a grocery store license to sell wine and/or beer, including without limitation strong beer at retail in original containers, not to be consumed upon the premises where sold.

Terms Used In Washington Code 66.24.360

  • Beer: means any malt beverage, flavored malt beverage, or malt liquor as these terms are defined in this chapter. See Washington Code 66.04.010
  • Board: means the liquor and cannabis board, constituted under this title. See Washington Code 66.04.010
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Delivery: means the transportation of alcohol to an individual located within Washington state from a licensed location holding an alcohol delivery endorsement as part of a delivery order. See Washington Code 66.04.010
  • Employee: means any person employed by the board. See Washington Code 66.04.010
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Liquor: includes the four varieties of liquor herein defined (alcohol, spirits, wine, and beer), and all fermented, spirituous, vinous, or malt liquor, or combinations thereof, and mixed liquor, a part of which is fermented, spirituous, vinous or malt liquor, or otherwise intoxicating; and every liquid or solid or semisolid or other substance, patented or not, containing alcohol, spirits, wine, or beer, and all drinks or drinkable liquids and all preparations or mixtures capable of human consumption, and any liquid, semisolid, solid, or other substance, which contains more than one percent of alcohol by weight shall be conclusively deemed to be intoxicating. See Washington Code 66.04.010
  • malt liquor: means any beverage such as beer, ale, lager beer, stout, and porter obtained by the alcoholic fermentation of an infusion or decoction of pure hops, or pure extract of hops and pure barley malt or other wholesome grain or cereal in pure water containing not more than eight percent of alcohol by weight, and not less than one-half of one percent of alcohol by volume. See Washington Code 66.04.010
  • Manufacturer: means a person engaged in the preparation of liquor for sale, in any form whatsoever. See Washington Code 66.04.010
  • Permit: means a permit for the purchase of liquor under this title. See Washington Code 66.04.010
  • Person: means an individual, copartnership, association, or corporation. See Washington Code 66.04.010
  • sell: include exchange, barter, and traffic; and also include the selling or supplying or distributing, by any means whatsoever, of liquor, or of any liquid known or described as beer or by any name whatever commonly used to describe malt or brewed liquor or of wine, by any person to any person; and also include a sale or selling within the state to a foreign consignee or his or her agent in the state. See Washington Code 66.04.010
  • Spirits: means any beverage which contains alcohol obtained by distillation, except flavored malt beverages, but including wines exceeding twenty-four percent of alcohol by volume. See Washington Code 66.04.010
  • Store: means a state liquor store established under this title. See Washington Code 66.04.010
  • Wine: means any alcoholic beverage obtained by fermentation of fruits (grapes, berries, apples, et cetera) or other agricultural product containing sugar, to which any saccharine substances may have been added before, during or after fermentation, and containing not more than twenty-four percent of alcohol by volume, including sweet wines fortified with wine spirits, such as port, sherry, muscatel, and angelica, not exceeding twenty-four percent of alcohol by volume and not less than one-half of one percent of alcohol by volume. See Washington Code 66.04.010
  • Wine distributor: means a person who buys wine from a domestic winery, wine certificate of approval holder, or wine importer, or who acquires foreign produced wine from a source outside of the United States, for the purpose of selling the same not in violation of this title, or who represents such vintner or winery as agent. See Washington Code 66.04.010
(2) There is a wine retailer reseller endorsement of a grocery store license, to sell wine at retail in original containers to retailers licensed to sell wine for consumption on the premises, for resale at their licensed premises according to the terms of the license. However, no single sale may exceed twenty-four liters, unless the sale is made by a licensee that was a contract liquor store manager of a contract-operated liquor store at the location from which such sales are made. For the purposes of this title, a grocery store license is a retail license, and a sale by a grocery store licensee with a reseller endorsement is a retail sale only if not for resale.
(3) Licensees obtaining a written endorsement from the board may also sell malt liquor in kegs or other containers capable of holding less than five and one-half gallons of liquid.
(4) The annual fee for the grocery store license is one hundred fifty dollars for each store.
(5) The annual fee for the wine retailer reseller endorsement is one hundred sixty-six dollars for each store.
(6)(a) Upon approval by the board, a grocery store licensee with revenues derived from beer and/or wine sales exceeding fifty percent of total revenues or that maintains an alcohol inventory of not less than fifteen thousand dollars may also receive an endorsement to permit the sale of beer and cider, as defined in RCW 66.24.210(6), in a sanitary container brought to the premises by the purchaser, or provided by the licensee or manufacturer, and filled at the tap by the licensee at the time of sale by an employee of the licensee holding a class 12 alcohol server permit.
(b) Pursuant to RCW 74.08.580(1)(f), a person may not use an electronic benefit transfer card for the purchase of any product authorized for sale under this section.
(c) The board may, by rule, establish fees to be paid by licensees receiving the endorsement authorized under this subsection (6), as necessary to cover the costs of implementing and enforcing the provisions of this subsection (6).
(7) The board must issue a restricted grocery store license authorizing the licensee to sell beer and only table wine, if the board finds upon issuance or renewal of the license that the sale of strong beer or fortified wine would be against the public interest. In determining the public interest, the board must consider at least the following factors:
(a) The likelihood that the applicant will sell strong beer or fortified wine to persons who are intoxicated;
(b) Law enforcement problems in the vicinity of the applicant’s establishment that may arise from persons purchasing strong beer or fortified wine at the establishment; and
(c) Whether the sale of strong beer or fortified wine would be detrimental to or inconsistent with a government-operated or funded alcohol treatment or detoxification program in the area.
If the board receives no evidence or objection that the sale of strong beer or fortified wine would be against the public interest, it must issue or renew the license without restriction, as applicable. The burden of establishing that the sale of strong beer or fortified wine by the licensee would be against the public interest is on those persons objecting.
(8) Licensees holding a grocery store license must maintain a minimum three thousand dollar inventory of food products for human consumption, not including pop, beer, strong beer, or wine.
(9) A grocery store licensee with a wine retailer reseller endorsement may accept delivery of wine at its licensed premises or at one or more warehouse facilities registered with the board, which facilities may also warehouse and distribute nonliquor items, and from which it may deliver to its own licensed premises and, pursuant to sales permitted by this title, to other licensed premises, to other registered facilities, or to lawful purchasers outside the state. Facilities may be registered and utilized by associations, cooperatives, or comparable groups of grocery store licensees.
(10) Upon approval by the board, the grocery store licensee may also receive an endorsement to permit the international export of beer, strong beer, and wine.
(a) Any beer, strong beer, or wine sold under this endorsement must have been purchased from a licensed beer or wine distributor licensed to do business within the state of Washington.
(b) Any beer, strong beer, and wine sold under this endorsement must be intended for consumption outside the state of Washington and the United States and appropriate records must be maintained by the licensee.
(c) Any beer, strong beer, or wine sold under this endorsement must be sold at a price no less than the acquisition price paid by the holder of the license.
(d) The annual cost of this endorsement is five hundred dollars and is in addition to the license fees paid by the licensee for a grocery store license.
(11) A grocery store licensee holding a snack bar license under RCW 66.24.350 may receive an endorsement to allow the sale of confections containing more than one percent but not more than ten percent alcohol by weight to persons twenty-one years of age or older.
(12) The board may adopt rules to implement this section.
(13) Nothing in this section limits the authority of the board to regulate the sale of beer or cider or container sizes under rules adopted pursuant to RCW 66.08.030.
(14) Any endorsement issued pursuant to this section or RCW 66.24.363 may be issued to a qualified combination spirits, beer, and wine licensee in accordance with RCW 66.24.035(10).
(15)(a) A grocery store licensee that also holds a spirits retail license under RCW 66.24.630 may, upon board approval and pursuant to board rules, transition to a combination spirits, beer, and wine license pursuant to RCW 66.24.035.
(b) An applicant that would qualify for a grocery store license under this section and a spirits retail license under RCW 66.24.630 may apply for a single license pursuant to RCW 66.24.035 instead of applying for a grocery store license under this section in addition to a spirits retail license under to RCW 66.24.630.
[ 2017 c 96 § 2; 2015 c 192 § 1; 2012 c 2 § 104 (Initiative Measure No. 1183, approved November 8, 2011); 2011 c 119 § 203; (2009 c 507 § 5 expired July 1, 2011); 2007 c 226 § 2; 2003 c 167 § 8; 1997 c 321 § 22; 1993 c 21 § 1; 1991 c 42 § 4; 1987 c 46 § 1; 1981 1st ex.s. c 5 § 41; 1967 ex.s. c 75 § 6; 1937 c 217 § 1 (23Q) (adding new section 23-Q to 1933 ex.s. c 62); RRS § 7306-23Q.]

NOTES:

Finding—Application—Rules—Effective date—Contingent effective date—2012 c 2 (Initiative Measure No. 1183): See notes following RCW 66.24.620.
Expiration date—2009 c 507: See note following RCW 66.24.320.
Application to certain retailers—2003 c 167 §§ 8 and 9: “Sections 8 and 9 of this act apply to retailers who hold a restricted grocery store license or restricted beer and/or wine specialty shop license on or after July 1, 2003.” [ 2003 c 167 § 12.]
Effective date—2003 c 167: See note following RCW 66.24.244.
Report to legislature—2003 c 167: See note following RCW 66.24.250.
Effective date—1997 c 321: See note following RCW 66.24.010.
Effective date—1981 1st ex.s. c 5: See RCW 66.98.100.
Effective date—1967 ex.s. c 75: See note following RCW 66.08.180.
Employees under eighteen allowed to handle beer or wine: RCW 66.44.340.
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