A legislative effort is underway to protect Washington kids selling lemonade in their front yard from being shut down due to a lack of a license from a local government or health agency. Under a bill before the House Local Government Committee, kids’ lemonade stands wouldn’t require a local permit, license, or fee as long as they don’t set up the stand for 30 days or more a year, sell it a glass at a time, and aren’t selling a spiked version of the drink. Proper spelling of their beverage might be required. Republican Representative Luanne Van Werven, of Lynden, introduced the measure at the request of a constituent in Bellingham who said a local official had approached his daughter while she was peddling lemonade out of the front yard, and said she needed a permit. Van Werven’s measure prevents local governments from regulating nonalcoholic beverages sales by minors on private property, and got some input from the Health Department for an amendment that limits the number of days, requires single servings, clean hands, and a beverage that doesn’t spoil if it isn’t served a particular temperature. The committee will decide in the coming weeks whether to send the bill to the House floor. (Spokesman-Review) Photo by Jeff Siepman on Unsplash
