About the Three-Tier System

Tier 1: PRODUCERS make our beer and wine

Tier 2: DISTRIBUTORS (wholesalers) buy beer and wine from producers who then sell to retailers

Tier 3: RETAILERS sell beer and wine to the public

The 21st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, enacted when Prohibition ended, gave each state the power to control alcohol sales within their own borders. As part of their mandate, all fifty states selected some form of the "the three-tier system" as their regulatory scheme of choice to manage the distribution of beer and wine products within their borders. Under Washington State’s three-tier system, producers (Tier 1) are required to sell their products to distributors (Tier 2) who then sell them to retailers (Tier 3). Washington State producers may sell directly to Washington State retailers.

The three-tier system achieves an effective balance between the public’s concern with the safety and health consequences associated with over-consumption with the public’s demand for a diverse and accessible selection of alcohol products.

A Brief History of the Creation of the Three-Tier System
Acting like a safety net, the three-tier safeguard system provides for "checks and balances" in the way that alcohol is distributed and sold to retailers as well as consumers. Producers sell to licensed beverage distributors, wholesalers sell to properly licensed retailers, and retailers sell alcoholic beverages to the public...

Washington’s Three-Tier System: Responsible Access through a Regulated System that Works
The 21st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, enacted when Prohibition ended, vests the individual states with the power and right to control all aspects of alcohol production, consumption and distribution within their border...

What Retailers and Producers Say About the Three-Tier System
The current system in Washington State for regulating the sale of beer and wine is working for consumers and businesses alike. Customers have access to a large assortment of products from a variety of retailers at a competitive price.



• History of the Three-Tier System • How Washington's System Works • What Retailers & Producers Say About the System		About the Three-Tier System The Three-Tier System: A Definition Tier 1: PRODUCERS make our beer and wine Tier 2: DISTRIBUTORS (wholesalers) buy beer and wine from producers who then sell to retailers Tier 3: RETAILERS sell beer and wine to the public The 21st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, enacted when Prohibition ended, gave each state the power to control alcohol sales within their own borders. As part of their mandate, all fifty states selected some form of the "the three-tier system" as their regulatory scheme of choice to manage the distribution of beer and wine products within their borders. Under Washington State’s three-tier system, producers (Tier 1) are required to sell their products to distributors (Tier 2) who then sell them to retailers (Tier 3). Washington State producers may sell directly to Washington State retailers. The three-tier system achieves an effective balance between the public’s concern with the safety and health consequences associated with over-consumption with the public’s demand for a diverse and accessible selection of alcohol products. A Brief History of the Creation of the Three-Tier System Acting like a safety net, the three-tier safeguard system provides for "checks and balances" in the way that alcohol is distributed and sold to retailers as well as consumers. Producers sell to licensed beverage distributors, wholesalers sell to properly licensed retailers, and retailers sell alcoholic beverages to the public... Washington’s Three-Tier System: Responsible Access through a Regulated System that Works The 21st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, enacted when Prohibition ended, vests the individual states with the power and right to control all aspects of alcohol production, consumption and distribution within their border... What Retailers and Producers Say About the Three-Tier System The current system in Washington State for regulating the sale of beer and wine is working for consumers and businesses alike. Customers have access to a large assortment of products from a variety of retailers at a competitive price.
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