The Washington
State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) will provide guidance and oversight
for a yearlong pilot program that allows wine and beer tasting in 30
grocery stores across Washington. Participating stores may have 12
tastings on premises during the pilot program, which runs from Oct. 1,
2008 to Sept. 30, 2009. The Legislature directed the pilot
(Engrossed Senate Bill 5751) during the 2008 Legislative Session.
The WSLCB will document all findings, comments and complaints about the
pilot. The agency will then submit a report to the Legislature on Dec.
1, 2009.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns about the pilot program,
we want to hear from you. To contact the WSLCB, please send an e-mail to
tastingpilot@liq.wa.gov.
Please read on to find out more about the wine and beer tasting pilot in
Washington’s grocery stores.
Which stores will participate in the pilot?
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30 Washington grocery stores will participate in the
pilot, including:
- 15 independently owned stores
- 15 stores that are part of a nationally known chain of grocery stores,
including:
- 7 Safeway stores
- 5 Fred Meyer/QFC stores
- 2 Haggen/Top Foods stores
- 1 Albertsons store
- The independently owned stores were randomly selected in August 2008
- The number of stores each national chain was allocated is
approximately proportionate to the number of eligible submissions
- The national chains will select their participating locations
How will tastings work?
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- Stores must conduct a minimum of six tastings during the pilot
- Stores may conduct 12 tastings total
- Stores are limited to one tasting per month
- Wine and beer samples must be two ounces or less
- Each customer may have up to a total of four ounces
- No more than one sample of any single brand and type of wine or beer may
be provided to a customer during any one visit to the premises
- Food must be available for tasters
- Stores may only advertise tasting events inside the store
- The service area and facilities must be located within the store’s fully
enclosed retail area
- Store employees must be able to observe and control participants to
ensure that minors and apparently intoxicated persons cannot possess or
consume alcohol
- Customers must remain in the service area while consuming samples
What requirements do participating stores have to meet?
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- In June 2008, the WSLCB invited grocery stores that hold a
grocery store license to submit letters of
interest indicating their desire to participate in the pilot
- Stores are required to meet the following requirements to be eligible:
- The store must operate a fully enclosed retail area encompassing at
least 9,000 square feet
- The store’s primary activity must be the retail sale of grocery products
for off-premises consumption
- The cost of sampling may not be born – directly or indirectly – by any
liquor manufacturer, importer, or distributor
- The store is responsible for monitoring the tastings to ensure minors or
apparently intoxicated persons are not served alcohol
- Stores must notify their
local WSLCB enforcement office
five business days before a tasting
- Stores must prominently display their letter of authorization
identifying them as a pilot participant during each tasting
How will state laws and regulations be enforced?
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- All state alcohol related laws and regulations must be followed
- Liquor enforcement officers will attend each store’s first tasting
- Officers will continue to monitor the tastings through announced and
unannounced visits and compliance checks
Where can store employees receive limited alcohol server training?
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- Store employees who are involved in the tastings must complete a
WSLCB-approved limited alcohol server training program prior to
participating in a tasting event
- Participants can satisfy this requirement by attending a free
Identification and Over service class offered at
local enforcement
offices
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A list of classes can be found on the Enforcement Web page. Click the View Details
link to see class schedules for the desired office
- Store employees will receive a verification card for proof of training
- Mandatory Alcohol Server Training (MAST) permits also qualify as proof
of training
Related materials
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Customer feedback
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The WSLCB wants to hear your opinion about the wine and beer tasting
pilot. Please send any comments, questions or concerns about the wine and beer
tasting pilot to
tastingpilot@liq.wa.gov.
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