WASHINGTON STATE BOOSTS SPIRITS INDUSTRY

The Washington State Legislature passed a budget yesterday that expands Sunday liquor sales by an additional 29 stores to its current 20 stores and eliminates the 2005 spirits surcharge—two moves that DISCUS claims “signals Washington’s effort to create a more consumer-friendly marketplace.”

The budget will let the $0.42/liter spirits surcharge enacted in 2005 expire without renewal. DISCUS says the move will help reduce Washington’s current burdensome excise tax rate from $21.30/gallon to $19.39/gallon.