The Washington State Liquor Control Board today launched an online auction open to the public that will allow interested parties to exclusive rights to apply for a liquor license at the current location within its current footprint.

Successful bidders will have the exclusive right to sell spirits at 167 locations less than the 10,000-square-foot threshold established by Initiative 1183. The online auction closes April 20. Announcement of winning bidders is tentatively scheduled for April 30.

Details of the online auction including: a fact sheet, frequently asked questions (FAQ), auction terms and conditions and a link to the bidding site are available on the WSLCB website at www.liq.wa.gov.

This first-ever auction of state liquor store location rights is one of the last major milestones before the transition to private sales on June 1.