2022 Revised Code of Washington
Title 66 - Alcoholic Beverage Control
Chapter 66.44 - Enforcement—Penalties.
66.44.290 - Minor purchasing or attempting to purchase liquor—Penalty.

RCW 66.44.290

Minor purchasing or attempting to purchase liquor—Penalty.

(1) Every person under the age of twenty-one years who purchases or attempts to purchase liquor shall be guilty of a violation of this title. This section does not apply to persons between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one years who are participating in a controlled purchase program authorized by the *liquor control board under rules adopted by the board. Violations occurring under a private, controlled purchase program authorized by the *liquor control board may not be used for criminal or administrative prosecution.

(2) An employer who conducts an in-house controlled purchase program authorized under this section shall provide his or her employees a written description of the employer's in-house controlled purchase program. The written description must include notice of actions an employer may take as a consequence of an employee's failure to comply with company policies regarding the sale of alcohol during an in-house controlled purchase.

(3) An in-house controlled purchase program authorized under this section shall be for the purposes of employee training and employer self-compliance checks. An employer may not terminate an employee solely for a first-time failure to comply with company policies regarding the sale of alcohol during an in-house controlled purchase program authorized under this section.

(4) Every person between the ages of eighteen and twenty, inclusive, who is convicted of a violation of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable as provided by RCW 9A.20.021, except that a minimum fine of two hundred fifty dollars shall be imposed and any sentence requiring community restitution shall require not fewer than twenty-five hours of community restitution.

[ 2003 c 53 § 301; 2001 c 295 § 1; 1965 c 49 § 1; 1955 c 70 § 4. Prior: 1935 c 174 § 6(1); 1933 ex.s. c 62 § 37(1); RRS § 7306-37(1).]

NOTES:

*Reviser's note: The "state liquor control board" was renamed the "state liquor and cannabis board" by 2015 c 70 § 3.

Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW 2.48.180.