(1)
What is the purpose of these rules concerning chronic public inebriation and alcohol impact areas? (a) The enabling statutes for the liquor control board are contained in chapter
66.08 RCW. These statutes authorize the board to exercise the police power of the state for the protection of the welfare, health, peace, and safety of the people of Washington.
(b) The board's mandate to protect the welfare, health, peace, and safety of the people is to ensure that liquor licensees conduct their business in a lawful manner and that the presence of a licensee's alcohol sales does not unreasonably disturb the welfare, health, peace, or safety of the surrounding community.
(c) The purpose of these rules concerning chronic public inebriation and alcohol impact areas is to establish a framework under which the board, in partnership with local government and community organizations, can act to mitigate negative impacts on a community's welfare, health, peace, or safety that result from the presence of chronic public inebriation.
(d) For the purpose of these rules, chronic public inebriation exists when the effects of the public consumption of alcohol and/or public intoxication occur in concentrations that endanger the welfare, health, peace, or safety of a neighborhood or community.
(2)
What do these rules concerning chronic public inebriation and alcohol impact areas seek to do? WAC
314-12-210 and
314-12-215 seek to:
(a) Establish an expanded local review process for liquor license applications, assumptions*, and renewals inside a recognized alcohol impact area (AIA);
(b) Create standards under which the board may refuse to issue a liquor license; may refuse to permit the assumption or renewal of a liquor license; may place conditions or restrictions upon the issuance, assumption, or renewal of a license; or may place conditions or restrictions on an existing license inside a recognized AIA;
(c) Allow the board, in specific circumstances, to restrict the off-premises sale of certain alcohol products or alcohol product containers inside a recognized AIA.
| *Note: | A liquor license assumption refers to an application by a prospective new owner/operator for an existing licensed business. Under certain conditions, such applicants may apply for a temporary license to continue operations during the new license application review period. |
[Statutory Authority: RCW 66.08.030 and 66.24.010. 99-13-042, § 314-12-210, filed 6/8/99, effective 7/9/99.]