Enforcement and Education
Retail Enforcement
The Retail Enforcement section strives to protect and serve the public by ensuring legal acquisition and responsible use of alcohol and tobacco. This is achieved primarily through educational efforts and enforcement operations.
Educational efforts:
- Liquor law briefing materials and training
- Training classes offered to all licensees
- and their staff
- Technical assistance visits
- Educational support for licensees
- Liquor law training for law enforcement officers
- Collaboration with community groups
Enforcement operations:
- Premises visits
- Compliance checks
- Undercover operations
- Joint patrols with local law enforcement
- Emphasis patrols at Locations of Strategic Interest
- Regulatory enforcement
- Licensing support
- General investigations encompassing:
- Citizen complaints
- Alcohol-related serious injury accidents
- Financial audits
Tobacco Tax Unit
The Tobacco Tax Unit was created in 1997 to enforce the tobacco tax laws of Washington State. It includes 18 enforcement officers whose primary functions are to inspect cigarette/other tobacco product retailers, wholesalers and distributors, and to investigate and halt illegal shipments of contraband cigarettes and other tobacco products.
The Tobacco Tax Unit also:
- Maintains state and federal partnerships
- Educates wholesale, distributors and retail licensees on tobacco lawsWorks with Native American Tribes
The Tobacco Tax Unit continues to conduct retail/wholesale tobacco inspections leading to the identification of unpaid taxes on Other Tobacco Products.
Non-Retail Enforcement
Non-Retail Enforcement is responsible for the enforcement of state liquor laws and regulations that impact 2,675 non-retail licensees, including in-state and out-of-state entities that produce, import and distribute alcohol in Washington State. The state is a major wine producer with more than 500 licensed wineries. This unit has eight officers and one advertising coordinator.