This past winter, we reported twice on a bill in the State Legislature to allow beer and wine tastings in grocery stores — first report here, second report here. 
The bill eventually passed, and tonight, the state has announced the first 15 grocery stores “randomly selected” to participate in a pilot version of the program starting this October, and the only Seattle store in the first 15 (see the list here) is West Seattle Thriftway in Morgan Junction. 15 more stores statewide will be announced soon – they’ll be chosen from chains; Thriftway and the other 14 are all independents. (Hat tip to The Big Blog.) Here’s how the state says the program will work:
From the official news release:
* Stores must conduct a minimum of six tastings during the pilot
o Stores may conduct 12 tastings total
o Stores are limited to one tasting per month
* Wine and beer samples must be two ounces or less
* Each customer may have up to a total of four ounces
* No more than one sample of any single brand and type of wine or beer may be provided to a customer during any one visit to the premises
* Food must be available for tasters
* Stores may only advertise tasting events inside the store
* The service area and facilities must be located within the store’s fully enclosed retail area
* Store employees must be able to observe and control participants to ensure that minors and apparently intoxicated persons cannot possess or consume alcohol
* Customers must remain in the service area while consuming samples
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