Liquor Control Board announces chain store locations for tasting pilot

August 27, 2008

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 lcb.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@lcb.wa.gov.

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