MYNORTHWEST NEWS

The price of liquor, a cocktail could be going up

Feb 24, 2014, 8:14 AM | Updated: 8:19 am

Unless the legislature acts to clarify what’s okay or not, bars and restaurants could see tha...

Unless the legislature acts to clarify what's okay or not, bars and restaurants could see that volume discount go away, which means the price of your drink could go up 15 percent. (AP Photo/File)

(AP Photo/File)

Volume pricing on alcohol for bars and restaurants could be going away, and that means the price of your favorite drink could be going up, a lot.

Bars and restaurants get major discounts on alcohol from their distributors because they order so much of it.

But in November, the state liquor board ruled those discounts are not okay under the state’s new private liquor sales system.

Unless the legislature acts to clarify what’s okay or not, bars and restaurants could see that volume discount go away. Distributors say that could increase drink prices for customers by as much as 15 percent.

The liquor board doesn’t expect to see the increases.

Restaurants and bars are expected to sue, if the increases are allowed to go forward.

KIRO Radio’s Chris Sullivan and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The price of liquor, a cocktail could be going up