Virginia

This is a supplement to the training materials presented in the Affordable Alcohol Training Responsible Beverage Service Education Program and must be reviewed.

Governing Liquor Authority:

State of Virginia

Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control

2901 Hermitage Road

P.O. Box 27491

Richmond, Virginia 23261

Phone: 804-213-4400

Fax: 804-213-4411

Website: www.abc.state.va.us

Legal Age to Serve Alcohol:

18 years of age

Legal Age to Pour Alcohol:

21 years of age

Legal Age to Consume Alcohol:

21 years of age

Legal Age to Sell Packaged Alcohol

No minimum age for employment so long as another employee who is at least 21 years old is present to supervise.

Entry for Minors into a Liquor Establishment:

Minors are allowed on the premises of any licensed establishment. However, establishments can set house policies to only allow patrons who are at least 21 years of age.

Legal Age for Employment:

18 years of age

Additional Notes Regarding Age:

Consent Laws (Parents Serving Minors):

No – never permitted.

Alcohol Service Hours:

On-Premise Establishments (in mixed beverage localities) may sell and service alcohol Monday – Sunday from 6am to 2am.

On-Premise Establishments (in other localities) may sell and service alcohol Monday – Sunday from 6am to midnight.

Off-Premise licensees and retail stores may sell alcohol Monday – Sunday from 6am to midnight.

State run liquor stores generally operate Monday – Saturday from 10am to 9pm and on Sunday from 1pm to 6pm. Hours may vary by store.

Acceptable ID’s:

· Drivers License (50 states and District of Columbia)

· State ID Card

· U.S. Passport

· Visa issued by a foreign government

· Military ID

· Special ID issued by the Virginia DMV

· Any valid ID issued by a federal or state governmental agency (must display the photo and signature of the person as well as the person’s date of birth, height and weight.)

BAC for Operation of a Motor Vehicle:

.08

Dram Shop Laws:

None

Confiscating False ID’s:

Licensees are not allowed to confiscate a person’s ID even if they believe it to be false. Licensees are encouraged to contact local law enforcement or an agent of the Virginia ABC to deal with the situation.

Alcohol Service Restrictions on Time and Quantity:

Licensees are prohibited from:

· Giving away free drinks.

· Offering two-for-one drink specials or promotions.

· Offering single-priced, unlimited service drink specials.

· Increasing the amount of alcohol in a drink without increasing the price of the drink.

· Selling pitchers of mixed alcoholic beverages.

Restrictions regarding Happy Hour:

· The time period during which Happy Hour is permitted is from 6am to 9pm.

· Under the law in Virginia, Happy Hour drink specials are prohibited between 9pm and 2am on the following day.

· Licensees are prohibited from advertising Happy Hour on the exterior of their establishment or through the media.

Guests may not possess more than 2 alcoholic drinks at the same time.

Penalty for Serving and/or Selling Alcohol to a Minor:

It is a Class 1 misdemeanor that is punishable by a fine up to $2,500.00 and/or up to 1 year in confinement. Additionally, the guilty person’s driver’s license may be suspended for up to a maximum of 1 year.

Program State Approval Status:

State Certification Fees:

Required Training:

Training of employees is voluntary.

Re-certification Requirement:

Mitigation Benefit:

N/A

Virginia’s Liquor Authority

Virginia’s Governing Liquor Authority:

The State of Virginia’s governing liquor authority is the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control or ABC.
The phone number for the ABC is: 804-213-4400.
The website for the ABC is: www.abc.state.va.us.
Virginia’s Legislature is the body responsible for enacting the state’s alcohol laws.
Responsible alcohol service training is voluntary.
Posting of alcohol warning signs is not a state requirement.

Virginia is a control state:

The state government controls the sale and distribution of alcohol.

Liquor License and Alcohol Beverage Laws for the State of Virginia

Virginia’s ABC requires:

Licensees to uphold all the liquor laws for the state of Virginia.

Licensees to also be knowledgeable of and abide by any local ordinances as well.

Under Virginia’s Alcohol Laws:

· Licensees are prohibited from:

o Giving away free drinks.

o Offering two-for-one drink specials or promotions.

o Offering single-priced, unlimited service drink specials.

o Increasing the amount of alcohol in a drink without increasing the price of the drink.

o Selling pitchers of mixed alcoholic beverages.

· Restrictions regarding Happy Hour:

o The time period during which Happy Hour is permitted is from 6am to 9pm.

o Happy Hour drink specials are prohibited between 9pm and 2am on the following day.

o Licensees are prohibited from advertising Happy Hour on the exterior of their establishment or through the media.

Guests may not possess more than 2 alcoholic drinks at the same time.

The following are the general service hours for alcoholic beverages in the state of Virginia (local ordinances should always be consulted):

On-Premise Establishments (in mixed beverage localities) may sell and service alcohol Monday – Sunday from 6am to 2am.
On-Premise Establishments (in other localities) may sell and service alcohol Monday – Sunday from 6am to midnight.
Off-Premise licensees and retail stores may sell alcohol Monday – Sunday from 6am to midnight.
State run liquor stores generally operate Monday – Saturday from 10am to 9pm and on Sunday from 1pm to 6pm. Hours may vary by store.

Identification

In order to be an acceptable form of identification in Virginia, the ID being presented must be valid. The following forms of identification may be accepted:

Drivers License (50 states and District of Columbia)
State ID Card
U.S. Passport
Visa issued by a foreign government
Military ID
Special ID issued by the Virginia DMV
Any valid ID issued by a federal or state governmental agency (must display the photo and signature of the person as well as the person’s date of birth, height and weight.)

The following forms of identification are not acceptable:

Student University and College IDs

Virginia’s Laws Regarding Age

Under Virginia law:

A person must be at least 21 years old to purchase and consume alcohol.

It is illegal to sell or serve alcohol to a minor.
Minors are allowed on the premises of any licensed establishment. However, establishments can set house policies to only allow patrons who are at least 21 years of age.
There is no mo minimum age for employment by minors to sell packaged alcohol so long as another employee who is at least 21 years old is present to supervise.