Title 66 — Title 66 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL

(1) The board shall adopt rules requiring retail licensees to affix appropriate identification on all containers of four gallons or more of malt liquor for the purpose of tracing the purchasers of such containers. The rules may provide for identification to be done on a statewide…

Except as provided in RCW 66.44.270, a person who intentionally furnishes a keg or other container containing four or more gallons of malt liquor to a person under the age of twenty-one years is guilty of a gross misdemeanor punishable under RCW 9.92.020.[ 1999 c 189 s 1; 1989 c …

The state of Washington fully occupies and preempts the entire field of keg registration. Cities, towns, and counties or other municipalities may enact only those laws and ordinances relating to keg registration that are consistent with this chapter. Such local ordinances shall h…

Licensed beer distributors may not buy or sell beer, for purposes of distribution, at farmers market locations authorized by the board pursuant to chapter 154, Laws of 2003.[ 2003 c 154 s 3.]

(1) Nothing in this chapter prohibits the use of checks, credit or debit cards, prepaid accounts, electronic funds transfers, and other similar methods as approved by the board, as cash payments for purposes of this title. Electronic funds transfers must be: (a) Voluntary; (b) co…

The legislature recognizes that the historical total prohibition on ownership of an interest in one tier by a person with an ownership interest in another tier, as well as the historical restriction on financial incentives and business relationships between tiers, is unduly restr…

The definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 66.28.280 through 66.28.315 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Adverse impact on public health and safety" means that an existing or proposed practice or occurrence has resulted or is more likely than not to res…

(1) Notwithstanding any prohibitions and restrictions contained in this title, it shall be lawful for an industry member or affiliate to have a direct or indirect financial interest in another industry member or a retailer, and for a retailer or affiliate to have a direct or indi…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 1701-S2.SL) ***Nothing in RCW 66.28.290 shall prohibit:(1) A licensed domestic brewery or microbrewery from being licensed as a retailer pursuant to chapter 66.24 RCW for the purpose of selling beer or wine at retail on the brewery premises and at one …

Any industry member or retailer or any other person seeking a determination by the board as to whether a proposed or existing financial interest has resulted or is more likely than not to result in undue influence or has resulted or is more likely than not to result in an adverse…

Except as provided in RCW 66.28.310, no industry member shall advance and no retailer shall receive moneys or moneys' worth under an agreement written or unwritten or by means of any other business practice or arrangement.[ 2009 c 506 s 6.]

(1)(a) Nothing in RCW 66.28.305 prohibits an industry member from providing retailers, including common carriers licensed under RCW 66.24.395, branded promotional items which are of nominal value, singly or in the aggregate. Such items include but are not limited to: Trays, light…

All industry members and retailers shall keep and maintain the following records on their premises for a three-year period:(1) Records of all items, services, and moneys' worth furnished to and received by a retailer and of all items, services, and moneys' worth provided to a ret…

The board shall adopt rules as are deemed necessary to carry out the purposes and provisions of this chapter in accordance with the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW.[ 2009 c 506 s 9.]

(1) No price for spirits sold in the state by a distributor or other licensee acting as a distributor pursuant to this title may be below acquisition cost unless the item sold below acquisition cost has been stocked by the seller for a period of at least six months. The seller ma…

(1) A retailer authorized to sell wine may accept delivery of wine at its licensed premises or at one or more warehouse facilities registered with the board, which facilities may also warehouse and distribute nonliquor items, and from which it may deliver to its own licensed prem…

(1) Subject to the procedural requirements of subsection (3) of this section, the board is authorized to regulate spirits retailers licensed under RCW 66.24.630 for the purpose of reducing the theft of spirits from the premises of such retailers. The authority of the board to imp…

(1) Licensees holding either a license that permits or a license with an endorsement that permits the sale of beer to a purchaser in a container supplied by the licensee or a sanitary container brought to the premises by the purchaser and filled at the tap at the time of sale may…

If a licensee subject to the license issuance fee requirements of RCW 66.24.630(4) fails to submit its quarterly reports or payment to the board, the board may assess a penalty at a rate no higher than one percent per month on the balance of the unpaid license issuance fee.[ 2015…

In accordance with RCW 69.50.3271, it is unlawful to manufacture, import, offer, or sell in this state a consumable product that contains cannabis or any form of tetrahydrocannabinol in combination with beer, wine, spirits, or any other type of liquor in the same product.[ 2023 c…

The board may, to the extent required to control unlawful diversion of liquor from authorized channels of distribution, require that packages of liquor transported within the state be sealed with such official seal as may be adopted by the board, except in the case of:(1) Liquor …

If, upon the sworn complaint of any person, it is made to appear to any judge of the superior court or district court, that there is probable cause to believe that intoxicating liquor is being manufactured, sold, bartered, exchanged, given away, furnished, or otherwise disposed o…

A copy of the warrant, together with a detailed receipt for the property taken shall be served upon the person found in possession of any intoxicating liquor, furniture, or fixtures so seized, and if no person is found in possession thereof, a copy of the warrant and receipt shal…

All liquor seized pursuant to the authority of a search warrant or an arrest shall, upon adjudication that it was kept in violation of this title, be forfeited and upon forfeiture be disposed of by the agency seizing the liquor.[ 1993 c 26 s 1; 1955 c 39 s 6. Prior: 1943 c 216 s …

Upon the return of the warrant as provided herein, the judge shall fix a time, not less than ten days, and not more than thirty days thereafter, for the hearing of the return, when he or she shall proceed to hear and determine whether or not the articles seized, or any part there…

At the hearing, any person claiming any interest in any of the articles seized may appear and be heard upon filing a written claim setting forth particularly the character and extent of his or her interest, and the burden shall rest upon the claimant to show, by competent evidenc…

If, upon the hearing, the evidence warrants, or, if no person appears as claimant, the judge shall thereupon enter a judgment of forfeiture, and order such articles destroyed forthwith: PROVIDED, That if, in the opinion of the judge, any of the forfeited articles other than intox…

Action under RCW 66.32.010 through 66.32.080 and the forfeiture, destruction, or sale of any articles thereunder shall not bar prosecution under any other provision.[ 1955 c 39 s 10. Prior: 1943 c 216 s 3(3), part; 1933 ex.s. c 62 s 33(2), part; Rem. Supp. 1943 s 7306-33(3), part…

In every case in which liquor is seized by a sheriff or deputy of any county or by a police officer of any municipality or by a member of the Washington state patrol, or any other authorized peace officer or inspector, it shall be the duty of the sheriff or deputy of any county, …

Any room, house, building, boat, vehicle, structure, or place, except premises licensed under this title, where liquor, as defined in this title, is manufactured, kept, sold, bartered, exchanged, given away, furnished, or otherwise disposed of in violation of the provisions of th…

(1) For an election upon the question of whether the sale of liquor is permitted, the election unit must be any city or town, or that portion of any county not within cities and towns.(2) This section is subject to the exception specified in RCW 66.40.030(2).[ 2015 c 153 s 1; 195…

Within any unit referred to in RCW 66.40.010, upon compliance with the conditions hereinafter prescribed, there may be held, at the time and as a part of any general election, an election upon the question of whether the sale of liquor shall be permitted within such unit; and in …

(1) Within any election unit referred to in RCW 66.40.010, subject to the exception specified in subsection (2) of this section, a separate election may be held upon the question of whether the sale of liquor under spirits, beer, and wine restaurant; spirits, beer, and wine priva…

Any unit referred to in RCW 66.40.010 may hold such election upon the question of whether the sale of liquor shall be permitted within the boundaries of such unit, upon the filing with the county auditor of the county within which such unit is located, of a petition subscribed by…

Upon the filing of a petition as hereinbefore provided, the county auditor with whom it is filed shall cause the names on said petition to be compared with the names on the voters' official registration records provided for by law with respect to such unit. The officer or deputy …

Upon the ballot to be used at such general election the question shall be submitted in the following form:"Shall the sale of liquor be permitted within . . . . . . (here specify the unit in which election is to be held)." Immediately below said question shall be placed the altern…

The returns of any such election shall be canvassed in the manner provided by law. If the majority of qualified electors voting upon said question at said election shall have voted "For sale of liquor" within the unit in which the election is held, the sale of liquor may be conti…

Ninety days after December 2, 1948, spirits, beer, and wine restaurant; spirits, beer, and wine private club; spirits, beer, and wine nightclub; and sports entertainment facility licenses may be issued in any election unit in which the sale of liquor is then lawful. No spirits, b…

Whenever a majority of qualified voters voting upon said question in any such unit shall have voted "Against sale of liquor," the county auditor shall file with the *liquor control board a certificate showing the result of the canvass at such election; and thereafter, except as h…

No election in any unit referred to in RCW 66.40.010, 66.40.020, 66.40.040, 66.40.100, 66.40.110, 66.40.120 and 66.40.140, upon the question of whether the sale of liquor shall be permitted within the boundaries of such unit shall be held at the same time as an election is held i…

(1) All county and municipal peace officers are hereby charged with the duty of investigating and prosecuting all violations of this title, and the penal laws of this state relating to the manufacture, importation, transportation, possession, distribution and sale of liquor, and …

In describing the offense respecting the sale, or keeping for sale or other disposal, of liquor, or the having, keeping, giving, purchasing or consumption of liquor in any information, summons, conviction, warrant, or proceeding under this title, it shall be sufficient to simply …

The description of any offense under this title, in the words of this title, or in any words of like effect, shall be sufficient in law; and any exception, exemption, provision, excuse, or qualification, whether it occurs by way of proviso or in the description of the offense in …

In any proceeding under this title, proof of one unlawful sale of liquor shall suffice to establish prima facie the intent or purpose of unlawfully keeping liquor for sale in violation of this title.[ 1933 ex.s. c 62 s 59; RRS s 7306-59.]

A certificate, signed by any person appointed or designated by the board in writing as an analyst, as to the percentage of alcohol contained in any liquid, drink, liquor, or combination of liquors, when produced in any court or before any court shall be prima facie evidence of th…

In all prosecutions, actions, or proceedings under the provisions of this title against a corporation, every summons, warrant, order, writ or other proceeding may be served on the corporation in the same manner as is now provided by law for service of civil process.[ 1933 ex.s. c…

Any person doing any act required to be licensed under this title without having in force a license issued to him or her shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor.[ 2012 c 117 s 289; 1955 c 289 s 2. Prior: (i) 1933 ex.s. c 62 s 28; RRS s 7306-28.(ii) 1939 c 172 s 6(1); 1935 c 174 s …

Except as permitted by this title, including as allowed under RCW 66.24.800, no person shall open the package containing liquor or consume liquor in a public place. Every person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a class 3 civil infraction under chapter…

(1) No person other than an employee of the board may keep or have in his or her possession any official seal adopted by the board under this title, unless the same is attached to a package in accordance with the law; nor may any person keep or have in his or her possession any d…

Except as otherwise provided in this title, every person who sells by the drink or bottle, any liquor shall be guilty of a violation of this title.[ 1955 c 289 s 3. Prior: 1939 c 172 s 6(2); 1935 c 174 s 15(2); 1933 ex.s. c 62 s 92(2); RRS s 7306-92(2).]