WAC 314-10-010  General--Liquor control board responsibilities. (1) The liquor control board shall regulate all sales and distribution of tobacco products pursuant to chapter 507, Laws of 1993. The liquor control board shall report all tobacco enforcement activity in a manner agreed by the department of health and the liquor control board on a quarterly basis or as set forth in the interagency agreement.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 66.08.030. 93-23-016, § 314-10-010, filed 11/5/93, effective 12/6/93.]

WAC 314-10-020  General--Applicable to all tobacco license holders. (1) All persons who hold a tobacco license as authorized by RCW 82.24.520 or 82.24.530 will:

(a) Display the license or a copy of the license in a prominent location at the business where tobacco products are sold,

(b) Display the license in a conspicuous place on the vending machine, and

(c) Display a sign or signs provided by the liquor control board concerning the prohibition of tobacco sales to persons under 18 years of age in a manner that allows the sign to be clearly visible to anyone purchasing tobacco products from the licensee at the point of purchase.

(2) No one is allowed to give or distribute cigarettes or other tobacco products to another person by coupon unless the coupon redemption requires an in-person transaction in a retail store.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 66.08.030. 93-23-016, § 314-10-020, filed 11/5/93, effective 12/6/93.]

WAC 314-10-030  Tobacco mechanical dispensing machines--Licensees without a liquor license--Records. (1) Tobacco licensees who do not hold a liquor license and use a mechanical dispensing machine (vending machine) must provide to the board a listing denoting the address and specific location of each tobacco vending machine.

(2) The tobacco licensee with a vending machine(s) must notify the board in writing of any new proposed location(s) for a tobacco vending machine ten working days in advance of the move.

(3) Vending machines which dispense or store tobacco products may only be located in establishments where minors are prohibited, or in industrial worksites where minors are not employed in such locations. The vending machines used to dispense or store tobacco products must be located at least ten feet from each entrance and/or exit. The board may waive upon written request the "ten feet" requirement when permanent fixtures or the design of the room make it impractical to place a machine ten feet from each entrance and/or exit.

(4) Vending machines with an exception waiver shall have an endorsement posted on the vending machine license to denote that the board has granted an exception to the ten-foot rule.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 66.08.030. 95-04-044, § 314-10-030, filed 1/25/95, effective 2/25/95; 93-23-016, § 314-10-030, filed 11/5/93, effective 12/6/93.]

WAC 314-10-040  How old do employees have to be to sell and handle cigarettes or tobacco products? (1) Any employee can sell and handle tobacco products when:

(a) The business has a cigarette retailer's license; or

(b) The business has registered with the department of revenue; and

(c) There is a supervising employee who is eighteen years of age or older on the retail premises.

(2) If someone under fourteen years of age is employed by a retailer, the retailer must comply with the requirements of the department of labor and industries under RCW 26.28.060 and WAC 296-125-018.

(3) Having an employee under eighteen years of age who handles and sells cigarettes and tobacco products according to subsections (1) and (2) of this section is not:

(a) Considered "possessing" cigarettes and tobacco products and is therefore not a violation of RCW 70.155.080(1); or

(b) Considered "giving" the employee cigarettes and tobacco products and is therefore not a violation of RCW 26.28.080.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 66.08.030. 99-03-031, § 314-10-040, filed 1/13/99, effective 2/13/99; 93-23-016, § 314-10-040, filed 11/5/93, effective 12/6/93.]

WAC 314-10-050  Sales to persons under 18 years of age. (1) No person may sell or give or in any way provide tobacco products to any person under 18 years of age.

(2) Any person attempting to purchase tobacco products must present identification to show he/she is at least 18 years of age upon the request of any tobacco licensee, employee of a tobacco licensee or enforcement officer as defined by RCW 7.80.040.

(3) All identification used to prove age must be officially issued and contain the bearer's age, signature and photograph. The only forms of identification which are acceptable as proof of age for the purchase of tobacco products are:

(a) A liquor control authority card of identification issued by a state of the United States or province of Canada,

(b) A driver's license, instruction permit or identification card issued by a state of the United States or province of Canada,

(c) A United States military identification card,

(d) A passport, or

(e) A merchant marine identification card issued by the United States Coast Guard.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 66.08.030. 93-23-016, § 314-10-050, filed 11/5/93, effective 12/6/93.]

WAC 314-10-060  Persons under 18 years old attempting to purchase/obtaining tobacco products. (1) Any person whom a peace officer or enforcement officer has reasonable grounds to believe is under 18 years of age who purchases or attempts to purchase, or attempts to obtain or obtains tobacco products may be detained for a reasonable period of time and in such a reasonable manner as is necessary to determine the person's true identity and date of birth. A person under 18 years of age who is cited for attempting to purchase or purchasing tobacco products is subject to a fine as set by chapter 7.80 RCW or participation in a smoking cessation program or both.

(a) This provision does not apply to a person under the age of 18 who, with parental authorization, is participating in a controlled purchase as a part of a liquor control board, law enforcement, or local health department activity.

(2) Tobacco products possessed by persons under the age of eighteen years are considered contraband and may be seized by an enforcement officer as defined in RCW 7.80.040.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 66.08.030. 93-23-016, § 314-10-060, filed 11/5/93, effective 12/6/93.]

WAC 314-10-080  Parents and guardians may not provide tobacco. No person, including parents or legal guardians of persons under 18 years of age may authorize any minor to purchase or obtain tobacco products.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 66.08.030. 93-23-016, § 314-10-080, filed 11/5/93, effective 12/6/93.]

WAC 314-10-090  Tobacco sampling--Licenses. (1) No person may engage in providing tobacco samples within Washington state without a valid sampler's license. A firm contracting with a tobacco manufacturer to distribute samples of a manufacturer's product is deemed to be the person engaged in the business of sampling. The liquor control board will issue any sampler's licenses.

(2) The annual fee for a manufacturer's samplers license within the state is $500 and is designated a Class T1 license. The fee for independent businesses that provide samples of tobacco products is $50 and is designated a Class T2 license. All sampler's licenses expire on the 30th day of June each year and must be renewed annually.

In adopting the language of WAC 314-10-090(3), the board affirms that sampling does have a direct impact upon the availability of product to minors. Many sampling activities, because of the large volume of product offered, promote secondary distribution to bystanders, especially minors. Addiction to nicotine can occur quickly after the use of a relatively small amount of product. It is the board's intention to limit this amount thereby reducing the opportunity and potential for product to be redistributed to minors.

(3) A sample is the smallest portion representative of the product that is available for retail sales and distribution. T1 and T2 license holders may distribute samples of tobacco products pursuant to chapter 70.155 RCW and chapter 314-10 WAC as follows:

(a) Cigarettes: No more than one sample package may be furnished per eligible customer per day. Such sample shall not contain more than twenty cigarettes per sample package.

(b) Cigars: No more than one sample of any single brand and type and no more than two samples may be furnished per eligible customer per day. Such sample shall not contain more than one cigar per sample package.

(c) Smokeless tobacco products: No more than one sample can, package or pouch may be furnished per eligible customer per day. Such sample can, package or pouch shall not exceed the size of the smallest unit available for sale at retail.

(d) All other tobacco products: No more than one sample unit may be furnished per eligible customer per day. Such sample unit shall not exceed the size of the smallest unit available for sale at retail.

(e) T1 and T2 licensees that have sample packages available that contain less tobacco product than allowed by this section are encouraged to provide such alternative sizes.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.155.110. 96-19-018, § 314-10-090, filed 9/6/96, effective 10/7/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 66.08.030. 93-23-016, § 314-10-090, filed 11/5/93, effective 12/6/93.]

WAC 314-10-100  Samplers license--Distribution of tobacco products. (1) The sampler's license entitles the licensee, and employees or agents of the licensee, to distribute samples at any lawful location in the state during the term of the license. The person engaged in sampling shall carry the Class T1 or T2 license or a copy of the license at all times and produce same at the request of an enforcement officer as defined in RCW 7.80.040.

(2) No person may distribute or offer to distribute samples in a public place. This prohibition does not apply to:

(a) An area to which persons under 18 years of age are denied admission,

(b) A store or concession to which a cigarette retailers license has been issued, or

(c) At or adjacent to a production, repair or outdoor construction site or facility.

(3) Notwithstanding (2) above, no person may distribute or offer to distribute samples within or on a public street, sidewalk, or park that is within 500 feet of a playground, school, or other facility where that facility is being used primarily by persons under 18 years of age for recreational, educational or other purposes.

(4) Class T1 and T2 licensees shall provide the board, upon request, the locations, dates and times sampling activities will take place.

(5) All T1 and T2 licensees must provide to the liquor control board, in a format prescribed by the board, a listing of the location, date, hours and quantities of tobacco products distributed in the state for the previous six months.

(a) A report for the period covering January 1st through June 30th of each year is due by no later than July 31st of each year.

(b) A report for the period covering July 1st through December 31st is due by no later than January 30th of the immediately following year.

(c) The board may take administrative action against any tobacco sampler who fails to submit the required reports.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 66.08.030. 93-23-016, § 314-10-100, filed 11/5/93, effective 12/6/93.]

WAC 314-10-110  Penalties, suspension notices, posting or advertising of--Other closing notices prohibited. (1) The liquor control board may suspend or revoke a retailer's or sampler's license for violation of the board's administrative rules governing tobacco. Further, the board may impose a monetary penalty in lieu of license suspension for violation of said rules not covered by statute.

(2) Licensees are required to maintain compliance with all tobacco laws and regulations during any period of suspension. Whenever the board shall suspend the license of any licensee, the board shall on the date the suspension becomes effective cause to be posted in a conspicuous place on or about the licensed premises a notice in a form to be prescribed by the board, stating that the license or licenses have been suspended by order of board because of violation of the Washington State laws or the regulations.

(3) During the period of suspension:

(a) No person shall remove, alter, cover, or in any way disturb the posted notice(s) of suspension;

(b) No person shall place, permit or allow to be placed in, at, or upon the licensed premises, any notice or statement of reasons or purpose indicating that the premises have been closed or that sale of tobacco products has been discontinued for any reason other than as stated in the notice of suspension; Provided Further, That the prohibition of this subsection shall apply to any nearby or adjacent property, such as a parking lot area that is owned by or under the control of the licensee.

(c) Neither the licensee nor his/her or its employees shall advertise, either by newspaper, radio, television, handbill, brochure, flyer or by any means whatever, that the licensed premises are closed or discontinuing the sale of tobacco products for any reason(s) other than those stated in the board's suspension notices.

(4) A tobacco licensee may operate the business during the period of suspension provided there is no sale or distribution of tobacco products.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 66.08.030. 93-23-016, § 314-10-110, filed 11/5/93, effective 12/6/93.]