Court rejects review of alcohol ruling

SEATTLE – The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has denied Costco Wholesale Corp.’s request that it reconsider a decision upholding Washington state’s rules on beer and wine distribution.

An appeals court panel ruled in January that most of the Prohibition-era laws are valid.

The rules include automatic price markups and bans on having alcohol delivered to a warehouse.

Costco hoped to beat the laws in hopes of using its massive buying power to drive down prices.

The court said Tuesday it would not hold a rehearing of the case.