Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board

Washington State Liquor Control Board

File:Washington State Liquor Control Board Logo.png
Agency overview
Formed	23 January 1934
Type	Liquor control board
Jurisdiction	Washington
Headquarters	3000 Pacific Avenue S.E. Olympia, Washington, United States
Employees	111
Agency executives	Pat Kohler, Executive Director Sharon Foster, Chairman
Key document	Steele Act, 1934
Website	Washington State Liquor Control Board

The Washington State Liquor Control Board is an administrative agency of the State of Washington. The Liquor Control Board is part of the executive branch and reports to the Governor. The Board holds a monopoly on the distribution of hard liquor because Washington is a control state. The Retail and Product Services Division operates all wholesale distribution and most retail sales of liquor. The Enforcement and Education Division has power to enforce alcohol and tobacco laws and inform the public about those laws.

In November 2011, a citizen's initiative was passed to end the state monopoly on liquor sales that has held since the end of prohibition, beginning June 1, 2012. State and local government revenues are projected to increase by $42 million and $38 million respectively over the next six years as a result along with a 48 percent increase in alcohol consumption.

Retail and Product Services Division

The division operates the State's liquor near monopoly through a wholesale business and numerous retail outlets. The monopoly covers distilled beverages like spirits and liqueurs. It competes with private firms that sell beer and wine at the wholesale and retail levels.

Wholesale liquor distribution

The board sells liquor to businesses and other organizations that sell or serve hard liquor on the premises. These customers include businesses like bars, night clubs, and restaurants. Additionally, some non-profit organizations are licensed to serve liquor. Examples include Veterans of Foreign Wars halls and the Swedish Cultural Center. The wholesale distribution facility is located in an industrial area of Seattle near the south end of the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

State liquor stores

The board's Retail and Product Services Division operates a statewide sales network of liquor stores, and sells products to a number of privately-owned contracted liquor stores. Most liquor stores are state-owned and operated. State-owned stores carry a selection of wines as well. Contract liquor stores are typically located in rural or remote areas. In many cases, they are small grocery or convenience stores. All liquor stores charge the same prices regardless of location or ownership. Retail prices are established by a published formula. Prices and some inventory information is available online. On November 8, 2011, voters approved Initiative 1183, which forces the state to close its liquor stores in favor of private sales on June 1, 2012.

Enforcement and Education Division

Liquor Enforcement Officers are assigned to the Education and Enforcement Division with Liquor Enforcement Officers enforcing state alcohol and tobacco laws. These officers are considered limited-authority law enforcement with authority only over the state's alcohol and tobacco laws. The Enforcement Division conducts compliance checks where underage and undercover state workers attempt to purchase alcohol or tobacco products from state licensed businesses. Individuals who sell to minors are arrested and/or cited; the associated business receives a notice of an administrative violation. Officers also conduct operations to detect violations such as overserving patrons. WSLCB officers are dispatched by the State Patrol.

In 2008, the first class of the Basic Liquor Law Enforcement Academy (BLLEA) graduated from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center. The current Chief of the Enforcement and Education Division is Justin Nordhorn. The Division has regional offices in Tukwila, Tacoma, Spokane, and Mount Vernon as well as field offices in Seattle and Pasco.

Alcohol Impact Areas (AIAs)

In 2005, the Seattle City Council asked the Liquor Control Board to prohibit the sale of certain low-end fortified wine in an impoverished "Alcohol Impact Area." The City requested the order after an earlier, "Good Neighbor" policy, in which the city requested convenience stores and liquor outlets in areas with large homeless populations voluntarily pull products known for their popularity with alcoholics. Among the products sought to be banned were over two dozen beers, and six wines: Cisco, Gino's Premium Blend, MD 20/20, Night Train, Thunderbird, and Wild Irish Rose. The Liquor Control Board approved these restrictions on 30 August 2006.

The cities of Tacoma and Spokane also followed suit in instituting "Alcohol Impact Areas" of their own following Seattle's example. Vancouver has an AIA that is technically voluntary, though it currently has a 100% retailer compliance rate.

Licensing and Regulation Division

The Licensing and Regulation Division issues liquor licenses, which numbered 14,604 in fiscal year 2006. Liquor licenses are issued to businesses and not-for-profit organizations. Various licenses exist and each license is suited to a particular type of business and product mix. Breweries, wineries, and distilleries would be licensed to produce their specific class of alcoholic beverages. Wholesalers and distributors would be licensed to buy beer and/or wine from breweries and wineries and sell to retailers. Retail licenses fit two categories depending on where the alcohol will be consumed. Retailers like grocery stores are licensed to sell beer and wine to customers who take the products home or elsewhere. Retailers like bars and restaurants are licensed to serve alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption. This group of retailers can be licensed to serve either beer and wine or beer, wine, and spirits. Some activities require a special endorsement or permit such as caterer offering alcohol at a client's event.

Alcohol Server Permits

The Division manages the Mandatory Alcohol Server Training (MAST) program. Under state law, people who serve alcoholic beverages at a bar, restaurant, or similar establishment need to possess an Alcohol Server Permit. The division certifies private entities to provide Mandatory Alcohol Server Training (MAST) courses. These private entities, called trainers, offer MAST courses to individuals like bartenders, servers, waiters, and restaurant managers. When an individual completes an approved MAST course, the certified trainer sends that information to the Board, which issues an Alcohol Server Permit (either a Class 12 or Class 13 permit) to the individual.

A class 13 permit allows a person to carry beer, wine, or spirits to a customer's table and pour wine from a bottle into a customer's glass. A class 12 permit allows a person to pour spirits, make mixed drinks (cocktails), and draw beer from a tap in addition to what a class 13 permit allows. A person must be at least 18 years old to hold a class 13 permit and at least 21 years old to hold a class 12 permit. Any licensed establishment must have at least one person with a class 12 permit on-duty to serve alcoholic beverages to its customers. A person with a class 13 permit must be supervised by a person with a class 12 permit. Some violations of the Alcohol Server Permit rules are misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor crimes.

See also

• Alcoholic beverage control state
• Alcohol monopoly

References

• Enabling State Legislation
• Agency Annual Report 2006