L to R: Senator Steve Hobbs, Governor Christine Gregoire and local business
owner Shane McDaniel.



Lake Stevens constituent and local business owner Shane McDaniel had an idea to help create jobs, stimulate economic growth and reduce waste in our landfills so he turned to Senator Steve Hobbs-Lake Stevens, in hopes that Hobbs would be able to help see that his idea came to fruition.

McDaniel owns Norm’s Market on Lundeen Parkway and wanted to help local micro-breweries by offering growlers at Specialty Wine and Beer Shops.

Growlers are half gallon, refillable, reusable and sealed for off premise consumption in glass containers. They got the nickname ‘Growler’ from early American workers whose stomachs growled for a bucket of beer after a hard day’s work.
Currently, most microbrews are only available on tap at taverns, which are slowly declining.

“Taverns are currently the only licensees allowed to fill growlers,” McDaniel explained in a letter to Senator Hobbs. “Tavern licenses are steeply declining as you have to be 21 to enter. Most bars today have a different license so that they can have families dine-in until 9 p.m.”

McDaniel wanted to change that and allow growlers to be filled at Beer, Wine Specialty Shops including Norm’s.
“My intention was to get more beers to market. There are 130 microbrewers in Washington State and only 30 are bottled,” McDaniel said. “That means the remainder are only available in a keg. A lot of people don’t want to buy an entire keg.”
McDaniel’s research showed that a coffee drinker who drinks two cups of coffee a day in non-reusable cups, will put 285 acres of garbage in landfills over their lifetime.

Growlers, which are refillable, would reduce waste by using a sustainable resource over and over again.
This doesn’t mean that growlers will be available at every corner market. The bill stipulates that they must have a Specialty Wine and Beer license to qualify.

“The Liquor Control Board couldn’t do it,” explains Sen. Hobbs.
“It had to be done through legislation. It’s kind of cool I was able to help him out.”

Together, Hobbs and McDaniel were able to pass a bill that will help small businesses in our community and around the state. The bill was signed by the governor on Friday, April 29.

“It helps the microbrewers in the state and helps the small business owner like Shane. It just shows that democracy works here and that you have a voice in government,” Hobbs said.  “Here’s somebody who went through their local leg. And said I’ve got a problem can you help me solve it.”

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