 PENALTIES
FOR VIOLATING LIQUOR LAWS
What are the penalties
for violating the liquor laws?
Penalty guidelines are grouped into three categories: Group
One - Violations Against Public Safety, Group Two -
Conduct Violations, and Group Three - Regulatory
Violations.
The tables below outline the
types of violations and the penalties associated with each one, whether it be the 1st,
2nd, 3rd, or 4th offense. For more information, please contact the Liquor Enforcement Office nearest you.
WAC 314-12-300 Group
One (1)--Violations Against Public Safety.
| Violation Type |
1st Violation |
2nd Violation |
3rd Violation |
4th Violation |
| minor frequenting a tavern,
cocktail lounge or other age restricted area |
5 day suspension or $500 monetary
option |
7 day suspension and no monetary option |
30 day suspension and no monetary option |
cancellation of license |
| sales or service: Of alcohol to persons
under 21 years of age |
5 day suspension or $500 monetary
option |
7 day suspension and no monetary option |
30 day suspension and no monetary option |
cancellation of license |
| criminal conduct: Allowing or
engaging in |
5 day suspension or $500 monetary
option |
5 day suspension or $2,500 monetary
option |
10 day suspension or $5,000 monetary
option |
cancellation of license |
| disorderly conduct: Allowing
patrons, by licensee or employee |
5 day suspension or $500 monetary
option |
5 day suspension or $2,500 monetary
option |
10 day suspension or $5,000 monetary
option |
cancellation of license |
| intoxicated persons: Sales to,
service to, consumption by, possession by |
5 day suspension or $500 monetary
option |
5 day suspension or $2,500 monetary
option |
10 day suspension or $5,000 monetary
option |
cancellation of license |
[Statutory Authority: RCW 66.08.030, 66.24.010 and
66.24.120. 99-03-032, § 314-12-300, filed 1/13/99, effective 2/13/99.]
WAC 314-12-310 Group
Two (2) offenses-Conduct violations.
| Violation Type |
1st Violation |
2nd Violation |
3rd Violation |
4th Violation |
| employee: Under legal age or with no mast
Permit |
5 day suspension or $250 monetary
option |
5 day suspension or $1,500 monetary option |
10 day suspension or $3,000 monetary option |
cancellation of license |
| food service: Not available |
5 day suspension or $250 monetary
option |
5 day suspension or $1,500 monetary option |
10 day suspension or $3,000 monetary option |
cancellation of license |
| hours of service: Sales, service,
removal, consumption between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. |
5 day suspension or $250 monetary
option |
5 day suspension or $1,500 monetary option |
10 day suspension or $3,000 monetary option |
cancellation of license |
| inspections: Refusing to allow |
5 day suspension or $250 monetary
option |
5 day suspension or $1,500 monetary option |
10 day suspension or $3,000 monetary option |
cancellation of license |
| lewd conduct: Allowing |
5 day suspension or $250 monetary
option |
5 day suspension or $1,500 monetary option |
10 day suspension or $3,000 monetary option |
cancellation of license |
| liquor: Substituting, tampering,
unlawful removal, possession, or unauthorized sale |
5 day suspension or $250 monetary
option |
5 day suspension or $1,500 monetary option |
10 day suspension or $3,000 monetary option |
cancellation of license |
| misuse of license: Or unauthorized use
of license |
5 day suspension or $1,500 monetary
option |
cancellation of license |
cancellation of license |
cancellation of license |
| retailer/nonre-tailer: Violations |
5 day suspension or $250 monetary
option |
5 day suspension or $1,500 monetary option |
10 day suspension or $3,000 monetary option |
cancellation of license |
[Statutory Authority: RCW 66.08.030, 66.24.010 and
66.24.120. 99-03-032, § 314-12-310, filed 1/13/99, effective 2/13/99.]
WAC 314-12-320 Group
Three (3) offenses-Regulatory violations.
| Violation Type |
1st Violation |
2nd Violation |
3rd Violation |
4th Violation |
| advertising: Violations |
5 day suspension or $100 monetary
option |
5 day suspension or $500 monetary option |
10 day suspension or $1,000 monetary option |
20 day license suspension with no monetary
option |
| inventory: Below amount required |
5 day suspension or $100 monetary
option |
5 day suspension or $500 monetary option |
10 day suspension or $1,000 monetary opting |
20 day license suspension with no monetary
option |
| keg registration: Failure to properly
register kegs |
5 day suspension or $500 monetary
option |
5 day suspension or $1,000 monetary option |
10 day suspension or $1,500 monetary option |
20 day license suspension with no monetary
option |
| licensing: Unauthorized alterations,
change of trade name or added activity. Inadequate lighting. |
5 day suspension or $100 monetary
option |
5 day suspension or $500 monetary option |
10 day suspension or $1,000 monetary option |
20 day license suspension with no monetary
option |
| liquor: Purchased from unauthorized
source, sale below cost |
5 day suspension or $100 monetary
option |
5 day suspension or $500 monetary option |
10 day suspension or $1,000 monetary option |
20 day license suspension with no monetary
option |
| nonretail: Posting or label violations |
5 day suspension or $100 monetary
option |
5 day suspension or $500 monetary option |
10 day suspension or $1,000 monetary option |
20 day license suspension with no monetary
option |
| records: Improper recordkeeping,
failure to allow inspection of records |
5 day suspension or $100 monetary
option |
5 day suspension or $500 monetary option |
10 day suspension or $1,000 monetary option |
20 day license suspension with no monetary
option |
| signs: Failure to post required signs |
5 day suspension or $100 monetary
option |
5 day suspension or $500 monetary option |
10 day suspension or $1,000 monetary option |
20 day license suspension with no monetary
option |
[Statutory Authority: RCW 66.08.030, 66.24.010 and
66.24.120. 99-03-032, § 314-12-320, filed 1/13/99, effective 2/13/99.]
VIEW RECENT
VIOLATIONS
For more information, please contact the WSLCB. |
