OLYMPIA - The Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) today
announced the remainder of the 30 Washington grocery stores that will
participate in a yearlong wine and beer tasting pilot. The pilot 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 provide guidance and
oversight for the pilot, and will submit a report including findings,
complaints and comments about the pilot to the Legislature on Dec. 1,
2009.
Participating stores
In June 2008, the WSLCB invited Washington grocery stores that hold a
grocery store license to send in a letter indicating their desire to
participate in the pilot. Participating stores must operate a fully
enclosed retail area encompassing at least 9,000 square feet, and the
primary activity of the store must be the retail sale of grocery
products for off-premises consumption.
The 30 participating stores are made up of 15 stores from four
nationally known grocery chains, and 15 independently owned stores. The
grocery store chains were asked to select which stores would
participate. The allocated amount of stores for each chain is
approximately proportionate to the number of submissions. The below list
of chain grocery stores is tentative, pending verification of each
location's eligibility.
- Safeway, 253 High School Rd. NE, in Bainbridge Island
- Safeway, 300 Bellevue Way NE, in Bellevue
- Safeway, 10020 NE 137th St., in Kirkland
- Safeway, 630 228th Ave. NE, in Sammamish
- Safeway, 26916 Maple Valley Rd, in Maple Valley
- Safeway, 501 N Miller, in Wenatchee
- Safeway, 2501 E 29th Ave., in Spokane
- QFC No. 807, 2746 NE 45th, in Seattle
- QFC No. 808, 10116 NE 8th, in Bellevue
- QFC No. 887, 417 Broadway Ave. E, in Seattle
- QFC No. 860, 8867 161st Ave. NE, in Redmond
- Fred Meyer No. 655, 1900 SE Sedgwick Rd., in Port Orchard
- Albertsons No. 458, 16304 Bothell-Everett Hwy, in Mill Creek
- Haggen Foods No. 53, 2900 Woburn, in Bellingham
- Top Food & Drug No. 67, 17641 Garden Way NE, in Woodinville
The 15 independently owned grocery stores were randomly selected by
the WSLCB on Aug. 13, 2008. Rosauer's Super Market No. 2, located at
1808 W 3rd Ave. in Spokane, withdrew from the pilot. Dayton Mercantile,
located at 516 W Main St. in Dayton, will take its place. Dayton
Mercantile was randomly selected as an alternate on Aug. 13. A tentative
list of the stores is available on the WSLCB Web site at www.liq.wa.gov.
The WSLCB will post a finalized list on the agency's Web site once the
eligibility of all 30 stores is verified.
Pilot requirements
Each store may have a total of 12 tastings on premises during the pilot
period. A store is limited to one tasting a month, and it must conduct a
minimum of six tastings during the course of the pilot. Beer and wine
samples must be two ounces or less, and customers can have up to a total
of four ounces. Store employees must be able to observe all tasting
participants in a designated tasting area to ensure that minors and
apparently intoxicated persons cannot possess or consume alcohol. Store
employees who are involved in the tastings must complete a WSLCB -
approved limited alcohol server training program prior to participating
in a tasting.
Enforcement activities during tastings
Liquor enforcement officers will attend each store's first tasting.
Officers will regularly conduct announced and unannounced visits and
compliance checks throughout the pilot to monitor compliance with the
pilot's guidelines and ensure all alcohol related state laws and
regulations are followed.
The WSLCB will survey participating stores for opinions and suggestions
about the pilot. The public can send comments, questions or concerns
about the pilot to the WSLCB via e-mail at
tastingpilot@liq.wa.gov.
For a complete overview of the tasting pilot, please visit
www.liq.wa.gov.
Contact: Anne Radford, Communications Consultant, 360-664-1604
Alan Rathbun, Licensing Director, 360-664-1615
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