State House allows wine and beer tasting at groceries

Published 4:27 pm Sunday, February 14, 2010

OLYMPIA — The state House has passed a measure that allows grocery stores to offer beer and wine tasting events.

The measure passed late Saturday night on a 72-22 vote. It now goes to the Senate, which passed a similar measure earlier Saturday.

In 2008, a pilot project for beer and wine tasting in grocery stores was approved by the Legislature, but that program ended in September.

The bill passed Saturday allows grocery stores to continue to offer the tastings. Under the measure, wineries and breweries can conduct pouring, bottle signing and other similar activities in conjunction with a tasting.

The beer and wine tasting bills are House Bill 2688 and Senate Bill 6329.