Business, Government Legal News from throughout WVWV House OK's bill to allow liquor sampling

Despite opposition, the House of Delegates on Feb. 20 to allow retail liquor stores to conduct sampling events.

House Bill 3174, sponsored by Delegates Bonnie Brown, D-Kanawha, Ron Fragale, D-Harrison, Cliff Moore, D-Mingo, and Doug Skaff, D-Kanawha, would allow class A retail establishments to conduct a "nonintoxicating beer sampling event on a designated nonintoxicating beer sampling day," an idea Delegate Woody Ireland, R-Ritchie, disagrees with.

"I think it's to increase sales, increase your market share," Ireland said. "I recognize there are various restrictions on how that event can be handled as indicated in this bill. But nevertheless, the purpose of a sampling event is to increase sales."

Ireland went on to point out that the House of Delegates heard testimony last week about infant mortality and other harmful affects of alcohol addiction. And although the serving sizes of alcohol offered at these sampling events are very limited, according to the bill, Ireland said it creates a slippery slope that can lead to addiction.

"Here we are expanding the opportunity for people to become alcoholics," he said. "I recognize we are talking about a very small sample here—two ounces or one ounce—but nevertheless, the primary reason to have a sampling event is to increase sales. An increase in sale of liquor or nonintoxicating beer … has the potential to lead to one more alcoholic and the impact of that."

According to the bill, store owners who want to conduct a liquor sampling event must submit a proposal in writing to the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control commissioner outlining the day, location and time of the event as well as the names of up to three specific brands, types and flavors of alcohol to be sampled. Complementary nonintoxicating beer samples are limited to "one separate and individual sample servings per brand, type and flavor per customer" and "two ounces in total volume per brand, type and flavor" to customers over the age of 21. The bill also sets forth provisions regarding the disposal of leftover liquor once the event ends.

The House passed the bill 68-28 and now heads to the Senate.