Washington Breweries Offer 'Pints For Pokes' To Boost Vaccination

WASHINGTON — What's a better way to celebrate getting vaccinated than with an ice cold drink?

That's the thinking behind the Washington Brewers Guild's latest “Pints for Pokes” campaign — an effort by the guild to boost vaccination rates by offering some tasty incentives to the recently-vaccinated.

Under the program, participating guild breweries will be buying a pint for any customer who provides proof of vaccination during the month of June. The only catch: the customer will need to have been vaccinated within the last five days.

The Washington Brewers Guild represents more than 200 breweries across the state, though not all will participate.

If that seems like an unusual promo, that's because it is. As the guild explains, it's only possible because the state Liquor and Cannabis board is allowing them a temporary advisement to make the promotion legal, in the interest of public health. Even then, participating breweries aren't technically allowed to call “free” or “complimentary”. Instead, they have to say they'll buy a drink on the customer's behalf, once they present proof of vaccination. The temporary advisement is also why the promotion has to end by July.

During the Pints for Pokes program the Washington Brewers Guild is also encouraging their breweries to host pop-up vaccination clinics.

If beer isn't your thing, don't worry: the WA Wine Institute is working on a similar program.

"We are working with interested wineries and local health to host pop up vaccine site and help get more shots in arms with a wine incentive in whatever way the winery chooses that stays within the bounds of this new temporary rule and our state laws," said WA Wine Institute Executive Director Josh McDonald. "We are trying to do our part to get to the 70% at least one vaccine in the arm rate to fully reopen and help better protect our aging and vulnerable population who are the most at risk through COVID infection."

The Washington Brewers Guild and WA Wine Institute may be the latest groups to incentivize vaccination with a free giveway, but they're far from the first. As Seattle Eater reports, several Emerald City breweries held pop-up clinics and offered $1 brews last week. Dick's Drive-In is also offering free burgers to any UW staff or students who get vaccinated at Madrona Hall. Other states have gone even bigger, with Ohio offering a $1 million dollar lottery for vaccinated residents — an idea that Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has said he's open to considering.

The Washington Brewers Guild is expected to announce participating breweries as June grows closer. The Washington Beer Blog is also tracking pop-up vaccination clinics at local breweries on their website.