You may want to send the kids out of the room when reading this. The state of Washington passed a bill to create a wine and beer tasting pilot program in 30 Washington grocery stores. Perhaps you heard rumblings about this on a local blog or television news, but no one in the mainstream newspaper media felt that it was worth printing.
I believe this program is a huge step for Washington and very worthy to print. Especially since out of 15 independent grocery stores chosen by lottery to participate, Tacoma has three: Stadium Thriftway, Tacoma Boys and Proctor Metropolitan Market. Only one Seattle store was chosen, West Seattle Thriftway. Finally, Tacoma, we get the props that we deserve.
As you can assume, these tastings will be highly controlled. Would we expect anything less from the Washington State Liquor Control Board? This bill would prohibit stores from serving alcohol to anyone under 21 and would limit customers to 4 ounces of beer or wine at any given tasting.
Participating stores would not be allowed to hold more than one tasting a month. The pilot program will last for one year and then be carefully evaluated before you will ever see a cute girl pushing Malbec at the end of the deli aisle.
Some folks oppose this program. Now there’s a shocker. According to Julie Peterson of the Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention, “Grocery stores are simply the wrong environment for events that promote alcohol consumption, regardless of the rules they follow. The more children and adolescents are given a favorable impression that the community supports alcohol and alcohol use, the more likely they are to engage in behavior like drinking.“
When did grocery stores get labeled “family only”?
That argument doesn’t hold water, or wine, because if that is the case, you had better stay out of ANY restaurant that serves alcohol. Hey, even Chucky Cheese serves beer and wine. Honestly, when my son was young, the offering was sweet release when hosting a party for 20 kids.
So when will these tastings take place? Metropolitan Market has their first tasting Friday, Oct. 24 and will feature wines from Spain. Stadium Thriftway will also hold their tasting on the 24th, but will feature Oregon wines from A to Z Winery. Tacoma Boys has yet to schedule their October tasting, so give them a call.
And if you are a parent, I trust you will use your best judgment.
Wine taste out, Tacoma. We need your love.
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