A spirit retail licensee may accept orders for spirits from, and deliver spirits to, customers.
- (1) Resale. Spirits shall not be for resale.
- (2) Stock location. Spirits must come directly from a licensed retail location.
- (3) How to place an order. Spirits may be ordered in person at a licensed location, by mail, telephone, or internet, or by other similar methods.
(4) Sales and payment.
(a) Only a spirits retail licensee or a licensee's direct employees may accept and process orders and payments. A contractor may not do so on behalf of a spirits retail licensee, except for transmittal of payment through a third-party service. The use of internet or mobile applications for retail customers to purchase alcohol in Washington state are allowed under the following conditions:
- (i) The sale must be made by the licensee;
- (ii) The licensee processes the payment for the sale; and
- (iii) The liquor licensee pays the owner of the mobile application a service fee.
- (b) All orders and payments shall be fully processed before spirits transfers ownership or, in the case of delivery, leaves a licensed premises.
- (c) Payment method. Payment methods include, but are not limited to: Cash, credit or debit card, check or money order, electronic funds transfer, or an existing prepaid account. An existing prepaid account may not have a negative balance.
- (d) Internet. To sell spirits via the internet, a new spirits retail license applicant must request internet-sales privileges in their application. An existing spirits retail licensee must notify the board prior to beginning internet sales. A corporate entity representing multiple stores may notify the board in a single letter on behalf of affiliated spirits retail licensees, as long as the liquor license numbers of all licensee locations utilizing internet sales privileges are clearly identified.
- (5) Delivery location. Delivery shall be made only to a residence or business that has an address recognized by the United States postal service; however, the board may grant an exception to this rule at its discretion. A residence includes a hotel room, a motel room, or other similar lodging that temporarily serves as a residence.
- (6) Hours of delivery. Spirits may be delivered each day of the week between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. Delivery must be fully completed by 2:00 a.m.
(7) Age requirement.
- (a) Under chapter 66.44 RCW, any person under 21 years of age is prohibited from purchasing, delivering, or accepting delivery of liquor.
- (b) A delivery person must verify the age of the person accepting delivery before handing over liquor.
- (c) If no person 21 years of age or older is present to accept a liquor order at the time of delivery, the liquor shall be returned to the licensee.
- (8) Intoxication. Delivery of liquor is prohibited to any person who shows signs of intoxication.
(9) Containers and packaging.
- (a) Individual units of spirits must be factory sealed in bottles. For the purposes of this subsection, "factory sealed" means that a unit is in 100 percent resalable condition, with all manufacturer's seals intact.
(b) The outermost surface of a liquor package, delivered by a third party, must have language stating that:
- (i) The package contains liquor;
- (ii) The recipient must be 21 years of age or older; and
- (iii) Delivery to intoxicated persons is prohibited.
(10) Required information.
(a) Records and files shall be retained at the licensed premises. Each delivery sales record shall include the following:
- (i) Name of the purchaser;
- (ii) Name of the person who accepts delivery;
- (iii) Street addresses of the purchaser and the delivery location; and
- (iv) Time and date of purchase and delivery.
- (b) A private carrier must obtain the signature of the person who receives liquor upon delivery.
- (c) A sales record does not have to include the name of the delivery person, but it is encouraged.
- (11) Website requirements. When selling over the internet, all website pages associated with the sale of liquor must display the spirits retail licensee's registered trade name.
- (12) Accountability. A spirits retail licensee shall be accountable for all deliveries of liquor made on its behalf.
- (13) Violations. The board may impose administrative enforcement action upon a licensee, or suspend or revoke a licensee's delivery privileges, or any combination thereof, should a licensee violate any condition, requirement, or restriction.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 66.08.030. WSR 24-23-002, s 314-03-030, filed 11/6/24, effective 12/7/24; WSR 17-17-030, § 314-03-030, filed 8/9/17, effective 9/9/17; WSR 12-23-003, § 314-03-030, filed 11/7/12, effective 12/8/12.]