(SEATTLE) - The Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) will hold a work session on Wednesday, December 20, from 2:30 to 5 p.m. at the Seattle Distribution Center, 4401 E. Marginal Way South. The Board agenda includes discussion of an evaluation planned for the Seattle Alcohol Impact Areas (AIA) and statewide license density issues.

AIA Evaluation and Background
The city of Seattle is collaborating with WSLCB to evaluate the Seattle AIAs. The Washington State University Office of Social and Economic Sciences Research Center (SESRC) will conduct the evaluation from 2006 to 2009.

SESRC will work with the city and Board to identify relevant evaluation measures for the study. Statistical data used will include chronic public inebriation emergency response service levels in the AIA areas, data on AIA neighborhoods and surrounding areas, dispersion effects, and revenue and sales data from local retailers.

AIA rules were created in 1999 to provide a framework for communities, the WSLCB and the alcohol industry to work together to mitigate communities’ problems with chronic public inebriation or illegal activities linked to the sale or consumption of liquor. The rules allow WSLCB to recognize a geographic area within a city or town as an AIA (WAC 314-12-210 and 314-12-215).

The state AIA rules require local jurisdictions to take the following actions before requesting that WSLCB formally recognize an AIA: 1) adopt a local ordinance declaring an area an AIA, and 2) attempt voluntary agreements with liquor licensees for at least six months.

Local governments may also request that the WSLCB restrict grocery and convenience stores in an AIA from selling certain types of beers and wines that are linked to local chronic public inebriation problems (such as high-alcohol content, low-cost products), or further restrict the hours that retailers can sell liquor to-go beyond the state rule restricting liquor sales between 2 and 6 a.m.

Density Workgroup Background
The WSLCB established a workgroup in 2006 to review the current cap formula on statewide spirits, beer, and restaurant licenses, and to develop a standard or criteria for determining when a liquor license application should be denied because a particular locality is adequately served. The Board will review recent workgroup meeting results and draft agency request legislation to add a nightclub liquor license as a new license class.

The WSLCB has the authority to deny liquor licenses if it determines that a particular locality is “adequately served” by existing spirits/beer/wine restaurant licenses for the “reasonable needs of the community.” Local communities raised concerns about the density or over-concentration of these licenses in some geographical areas and neighborhoods. WSLCB has not adopted by rule or policy an objective standard / criteria for making the determination that an area is “adequately served” under
RCW 66.24.420(5).

For questions, contact Susan Reams, Public Information Officer, WSLCB, 360-664-1698, or reams@liq.wa.gov.
 

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