The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) will be seeking input from businesses, especially retailers, on upcoming rulemaking regarding Retail Alcohol Product Placement. This is critical for retailers to engage directly and shape the rules that will impact store layouts, product placement, and compliance requirements.
What’s Happening?
LCB is evaluating new regulations focused on where alcohol products can be displayed in retail stores. Key areas of concern include:
- The placement of alcohol on end caps
- Products near store exits
- Cross-category product placements, ensuring alcohol is not displayed near items marketed toward children
The board acknowledges the unique challenges faced by retailers, particularly those with limited space, and is actively seeking feedback from the industry.
LCB has outlined a tentative timeline for rulemaking:
- March & April: Stakeholder engagement
- Late May: Proposed rules (CR 102) released
- July: Public hearing
- September: Final rules adopted
To inform their decisions, LCB is looking at best practices from Illinois, Michigan, and Virginia, as well as recommendations from the Distilled Spirits Council.
Why This Matters to You
These regulations will directly affect store operations, requiring potential layout changes and new compliance measures. While WR will be engaging with LCB on behalf of our industry, we strongly encourage retailers to participate directly where possible.
Next Steps
Stay tuned for updates as we engage with LCB. In the meantime, we encourage you to review the LCB rulemaking page here.
