Washington § 66.24.140 - Distiller's license — Fee — On-premises and off-premises consumption — Tasting room age restrictions.

(1) There is a license to distillers, including blending, rectifying, and bottling; fee $2,100 per annum, unless provided otherwise as follows:

(a) For distillers producing 150,000 gallons or less of spirits with at least half of the raw materials used in the production grown in Washington, the license fee must be reduced to $150 per annum;

(b) The board must license stills used and to be used solely and only by a commercial chemist for laboratory purposes, and not for the manufacture of liquor for sale, at a fee of $30 per annum;

(c) The board must license stills used and to be used solely and only for laboratory purposes in any school, college, or educational institution in the state, without fee; and

(d) The board must license stills that have been duly licensed as fruit and/or wine distilleries by the federal government, used and to be used solely as fruit and/or wine distilleries in the production of fruit brandy and wine spirits, at a fee of $300 per annum.

(2) Any distillery licensed under this section may:

(a) Sell, for off-premises consumption, spirits of the distillery's own production, spirits produced by another distillery or craft distillery licensed in this state, or vermouth or sparkling wine products produced by a licensee in this state. A distillery selling spirits or other alcohol authorized under this subsection must comply with the applicable laws and rules relating to retailers for those products;

(b) Contract distilled spirits for, and sell contract distilled spirits to, holders of distillers' or manufacturers' licenses, including licenses issued under RCW 66.24.520, or for export; and

(c) Serve samples of spirits for free or for a charge, and sell servings of spirits, vermouth, and sparkling wine to customers for on-premises consumption, at the premises of the distillery indoors, outdoors, or in any combination thereof, and at the distillery's off-site tasting rooms in accordance with this chapter, subject to the following conditions:

(i) A distillery may provide to customers, for free or for a charge, for on-premises consumption, spirits samples that are .5 ounce or less per sample of spirits, and that may be adulterated with water, ice, other alcohol entitled to be served or sold on the licensed premises under this section, or nonalcoholic mixers;

(ii) A distillery may sell, for on-premises consumption, servings of spirits of the distillery's own production or spirits produced by another distillery or craft distillery licensed in this state, which must be adulterated with water, ice, other alcohol entitled to be sold or served on the licensed premises, or nonalcoholic mixers if the revenue derived from the sale of spirits for on-premises consumption under this subsection (2)(c)(ii) does not comprise more than 30 percent of the overall gross revenue earned in the tasting room during the calendar year. Any distiller who sells adulterated products under this subsection, must file an annual report with the board that summarizes the distiller's revenue sources; and

(iii) A distillery may sell, for on-premises consumption, servings of vermouth or sparkling wine products produced by a licensee in this state.

(3)(a) If a distillery provides or sells spirits or other alcohol products authorized to be sold or provided to customers for on-premises or off-premises consumption that are produced by another distillery, craft distillery, or licensee in this state, then at any one time no more than 25 percent of the alcohol stock-keeping units offered or sold by the distillery at its distillery premises and at any off-site tasting rooms licensed under RCW 66.24.146 may be vermouth, sparkling wine, or spirits made by another distillery, craft distillery, or licensee in this state. If a distillery sells fewer than 20 alcohol stock-keeping units of products of its own production, it may sell up to five alcohol stock-keeping units of vermouth, sparkling wine, or spirits produced by another distillery, craft distillery, or licensee in this state.

(b) A person is limited to receiving or purchasing, for on-premises consumption, no more than two ounces total of spirits that are unadulterated. Any additional spirits purchased for on-premises consumption must be adulterated as authorized in this section.

(c)(i) No person under 21 years of age may be on the premises of a distillery tasting room, including an off-site tasting room licensed under RCW 66.24.146, unless they are accompanied by their parent or legal guardian.

(ii) Every distillery tasting room, including the off-site tasting rooms licensed under RCW 66.24.146, where alcohol is sampled, sold, or served, must include a designated area where persons under 21 years of age are allowed to enter. Such location may be in a separate room or a designated area within the tasting room separated from the remainder of the tasting room space as authorized by the board.

(iii) Except for (c)(iv) of this subsection, or an event where a private party has secured a private banquet permit, no person under 21 years of age may be on the distillery premises, or the off-site tasting rooms licensed under RCW 66.24.146, past 9:00 p.m.

(iv) Notwithstanding the limitations of (c)(iii) of this subsection, persons under 21 years of age who are children of owners, operators, or managers of a distillery or an off-site tasting room licensed under RCW 66.24.146, may be in any area of a distillery, tasting room, or an off-site tasting room licensed under RCW 66.24.146, provided they must be under the direct supervision of their parent or legal guardian while on the premises.

(d) Any person serving or selling spirits or other alcohol authorized to be served or sold by a distillery must obtain a class 12 alcohol server permit.

(e) A distillery may sell nonalcoholic products at retail.

Expiration date—2022 c 116 ss 2-20: See note following RCW 66.24.420.

Effective date—Finding—Intent—2022 c 116: See notes following RCW 66.24.420.

Effective date—2021 c 6: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [February 28, 2021]." [ 2021 c 6 s 20.]

Effective date—1981 1st ex.s. c 5: See RCW 66.98.100.