WWI News

Summer is here! Many licensees work with the LCB to permanently expand outdoor seating areas. This year and next, some licensees also have an opportunity to expand outdoor seating in public areas. Say what?!

If you are a qualified licensee, you may be able to do that under the Expanded Alcohol Services program. The state legislature approved these expanded services through December 31, 2027. An example of this might be a corner set up with a bench owned by the city and shared by several local stores. This offers a bit of respite for shoppers strolling in your area. With the city’s permission and LCB’s authorization, this could be designated as a public consumption area, allowing patrons to take their drink from your premises to enjoy the outdoors with their family.

How to Get Started:

1. Check the map: First, check our GIS map to see if your city, town, or county is approved for the Expanded Outdoor Alcohol Services authorization.
2. Contact local government: If your local government is approved, reach out to your officials and ask about any specific rules for outdoor service areas and how you can get started.
3. Apply with the LCB: After you’ve met local permitting requirements, you can submit your added activity application in the LCB Portal. If you are sharing the expanded outdoor area with other licensees, you can choose one primary licensee to submit the application on behalf of all participants.

Important Rules and Tips

Who qualifies?

Only the following license types can apply:

– Beer/wine restaurants
– Spirits/beer/wine restaurants
– Taverns
– Snack bars
– Wineries
– Breweries
– Distilleries

Approval isn’t Automatic

If your local government is already approved for expanded outdoor service, this does not automatically grant approval for you to expand in public areas. You must still apply with the LCB and follow all local and state laws and regulations.

Permanent Location

Licensees must have a permanent physical location within the approved area to join. Licensees may not pop-up or set up temporary service locations to participate within approved expanded outdoor service areas.

Apply First

Licensees must apply with the LCB and get approval before starting operation of an expanded outdoor service area. As part of the application, licensees will need to include a Joint Operating Plan and Site Map.

Is your area not on the map?

Expanding alcohol services into public spaces is a choice for cities, counties, and port authorities. If your local government has not requested these expanded services, it could be by choice, or they are not aware of interest in the program by their local businesses. There is also a cost for the local government that also must be considered. To encourage discussion around the authorization, reach out to your local officials.

This is a great opportunity only available through December 31, 2027. Don’t hesitate to reach out to ExpandedAlcoholServices@lcb.wa.gov if you have any questions.

This story was published in the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board’s (LCB) quarterly newsletter, Topics and Trends, from the summer 2026 alcohol edition on Medium. Other stories featured that may be helpful to your winery include A First Look at DUI Data from the World Cup, Snack Bar License Updates, Liquor License Renewal Deadline Reminders, 2026 Liquor-Related Legislative Changes, and more.

If you have feedback on topics you’d like to see in coming editions, please email LCB communications staff at communications@lcb.wa.gov.

These resources were compiled in partnership by the Washington State Wine Commission and Washington Winegrowers Association.

Tools & Resources for Smoke Preparedness

Please join us in welcoming the Washington Wine Institute’s newest Board of Directors members, Nicole Arnold of RM Wineries and Joe Pfost of Mark Ryan Winery. We are humbled and excited to have both Nicole and Joe on our leadership team.

Nicole Arnold serves as Director of Operations and Winemaker for RM Wineries and Evergreen Family Wines in Quincy and Mattawa, Washington.

We are very appreciative of all our Board Members for their dedication to serving the Washington wine industry in a voluntary capacity. We look forward to our continued work together as we collectively strive for a better future for Washington wine.

Let the music play! Washington Wine Institute members now have access to stream endless hours of fully-licensed music at their winery through a new partnership with Soundtrack. Enjoy 10% off monthly subscriptions or 20% off annual plans. Plus, enjoy 20% off all add-on services!

Subscribe to Soundtrack through the WWI + Soundtrack partner link and stream over 125 million songs and 2,000+ playlists.

Start streaming music at your tasting room(s) with a Soundtrack two-week free trial today!

Did you know? Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) solicit businesses that play overhead music for proof of purchase of a music license, including winery tasting rooms. If a business is not properly licensed, they may be subject to significant fines per song. But Soundtrack has you covered with

▪️10% off monthly Soundtrack subscriptions (includes all necessary PRO licenses), 

▪️or 20% off yearly Soundtrack subscriptions (includes all necessary PRO licenses).

▪️Plus 20% off premium services (music curation, Hi-Fi, in-venue messaging).

Also take advantage of these perks for a user-friendly and flexible service:

▪️Explicit lyrics filter

▪️Weekly scheduling

▪️On-demand playback

▪️Centralized music management for multiple locations

▪️Play offline

Cost savings comparison for an 80-person capacity tasting room

average annual savings: $1,030-$1,054

Note: Soundtrack offers free, two-week trials to all businesses. Discounted subscriptions are exclusively available to Washington Wine Institute members through an affiliate program. Please email marie@wwi.wine if you have any questions about WWI membership, or click here to become a member.

Wine professionals across the Pacific Northwest filled the Walter Clore Center Tuesday for the inaugural Direct to Consumer (DTC) Wine Symposium in the Pacific Northwest.

The Washington Wine Institute was honored to kick off event sessions alongside Jana McKamey (Oregon Winegrowers Association) and Moya Dolsby (Idaho Wine Commission) for a sit-down panel conversation on wine DTC advocacy, tasting room policy, and the regulatory need-to-knows (and challenges) of each state. We hope attendees walked away feeling equipped to support your wine association’s efforts. The panel encouraged wineries who would like to be more involved to become a member of their wine association, donate to your state’s wine industry political action committee (PAC), and attend campaign events, among other ideas. These wine association leaders are working hard to advocate for wineries, and call on wineries for help because advocacy is done collectively. 

It was great to see so many familiar faces and meet new people working hard to create PNW wine and get it to the consumer. We feel so fortunate to be part of such a supportive community.

Proceeds from DTC Wine Symposium – Pacific Northwest ticket sales went to Free the Grapes!, a national grassroots coalition of wine lovers and wineries who seek to remove bans and streamline restrictions in states that prevent consumers from purchasing wines directly from wineries.

WA wineries are invited to a free educational session on all things music licensing, presented in partnership by the Washington Wine Institute and Soundtrack—a music streaming service built to bring you music that’s legal for wineries.

Ask your questions and share your concerns directly with Soundtrack on topics including streaming music in your tasting room, requirements for live performers, events and social media, interacting with PROs, and more.  Also learn more about the Soundtrack discount program offered through Washington Wine Institute membership. We hope to see you there!

From the State of Washington Tourism

15-Year Vision for Industry-Led State Tourism Program Now Moves to Rulemaking and Ratification Process

Today, Washington State Gov. Bob Ferguson signed Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2325 (E2SHB 2325) into law. The bill enables the state’s private sector tourism industry to create, ratify and oversee an industry self-supported assessment that generates competitive annual funding for State of Washington Tourism, the official state destination marketing organization.  

The bill caps 15 years of cooperative industry work and advocacy following the closure of Washington’s state tourism agency in 2011 during the Great Recession. The proposed assessment must next undergo an industry rulemaking process, led by a new ratepayer oversight board and, ultimately, ratification by identified ratepayer businesses before funds can be collected. 

Preliminary projections for annual program funding levels generated by the assessment could boost Washington from among the least-funded state tourism programs in the U.S. to close to the national average. Firm projections will be made once total industry participation is determined in the rulemaking process. 

The new funding would be used to restart domestic marketing campaigns to attract leisure travelers to Washington, as well as expand international marketing and travel trade efforts to position the state as a premier destination in the U.S. Marketing efforts would be designed to drive overnight visitors who stay longer and spend more. The program of work would emphasize building a sustainable, year-round tourism economy and be developed and refined in partnership with, and with oversight from, assessment ratepayers. 

E2SHB 2325 follows passage of SSB 5492in the previous legislative session, which created an industry advisory group that reported its assessment recommendations to the Washington Legislature last fall. Those recommendations included: 

·    Eligible assessment classifications of lodging, travel services, attractions, recreation, beverage industry, restaurant and retail locations 

·    Inclusion of tourism businesses that directly benefit from retail visitor expenditures 

·    A nominal assessment rate based upon a percentage of gross business revenue 

·    Targeted annual program collections of at least $25 million to significantly raise Washington’s competitive position 

·    Six-year assessment terms that are re-authorized by ratepayers 

·    Strong industry oversight and self-governance components with recognition that the assessment funds must be spent in accordance with state law 

These recommendations informed E2SHB 2325.  

“This bill provides the tourism industry with the tools to come together, invest in our state, and create a sustainable approach to promoting Washington and strengthening our economy,” said Rep. Dave Paul, prime sponsor. “With everything our state has to offer, this measure is a big step forward for Washington to claim a spot as a destination on the global stage.” 

“Attracting more visitors to Spokane and other parts of our beautiful state will boost support for our local economy and hospitality industry,” said Sen. Marcus Riccelli, Senate companion bill sponsor. “I am really proud to have worked with the tourism industry, Rep. Paul and the governor’s office on this carefully crafted legislation that will provide a sustainable and competitive state tourism funding model that will drive economic growth in Washington for years to come. The return on investment is not just the pride I feel in better showing off every corner of our state and everything in between, it is the economic multiplier that will benefit businesses and communities significantly.” 

“This is a milestone achievement for tourism in Washington,” said David Blandford, CEO of State of Washington Tourism. “It wouldn’t have happened without the tireless work and advocacy of our statewide industry, and it’s meaningful to have legislative and gubernatorial validation of our long-sought vision for an industry-led program. Now, it’s up to industry members to conduct assessment program rulemaking, ratify the legislation and roll up our sleeves to re-position Washington as a premier visitor destination.” 

Industry rulemaking and governance initiatives are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026 with an assessment referendum date to be determined.