Virginia alcohol laws
What Virginia has enacted on alcohol, what each law requires, and what the bills still moving would do. Virginia is one of 47 states that enacted an alcohol law in the 2025 and 2026 sessions.
14 new Virginia laws take effect in 2027
- Bills in scope
- 33bills in scope
- Past committee
- 21past committee
- Most recent action
- 21 July 2026most recent action
Alcohol laws enacted in Virginia
13 alcohol laws enacted in the Virginia Legislature in the 2025 and 2026 sessions, newest first. Each links to the legislature's own page.
- HB 1343Alcoholic beverage control; banquet license, municipality or nonprofit organization.Took effect 1 July 2026
What it requires: Manufacturers of wine, malt beverages, or distilled spirits may obtain banquet licenses to feature and educate the public about their products, limited to eight licenses per year. Manufacturers, bottlers, brokers, importers, or wholesalers may sponsor special events for which municipalities or nonprofit organizations hold banquet licenses at museums or historic sites, limited to eight licenses per year.
Licensing and retail permits
What it requires: Mixed beverage restaurant, caterer, and limited caterer licensees must maintain food-to-beverage ratios set by Board regulation: licensees with kitchens equipped with ventilation hoods and monthly food sales of at least $4,000 must achieve 30 percent ratio; all other such licensees with monthly food sales of at least $4,000 must achieve 45 percent ratio.
Licensing and retail permits
- SB 424Alcoholic beverage control; distiller's licensees as agents of Board, sale of alcoholic beverages.Enacted 13 April 2026
What it requires: The Board may appoint holders of distiller's licenses or their officers and employees as agents to sell spirits and low alcohol beverage coolers at government stores. Such agents must sell in accordance with the subtitle, Board regulations, and agency agreements, and must have food reasonably available when spirits are served. The Board shall pay agents a commission of not less than 20 percent of retail price.
Three-tier, distribution and franchise, Licensing and retail permits
- SB 532Alcoholic beverage control; banquet license, municipality or nonprofit organization.Enacted 13 April 2026
What it requires: The Board may grant a banquet special event license or mixed beverage special event license to a retail licensee that is a duly organized nonprofit corporation or association for an event where a farm winery, winery, brewery, or distillery is licensed to sell alcoholic beverages, provided the retail licensee temporarily suspends its retail operations for the event's duration.
Three-tier, distribution and franchise, Licensing and retail permits
- SB 788Alcoholic beverage control; payment of excise tax on beer, wine coolers, and wine, penalties.Took effect 1 July 2026
What it requires: No person shall sell beer, wine coolers, or wine without paying the required excise tax. No retailer shall purchase, receive, transport, store, or sell beer, wine coolers, or wine knowing the tax has not been paid. By November 1, 2026, the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority shall implement an online system for manufacturer and wholesale wine licensees to report purchases, sales, and tax collected and provide payment.
Excise taxes and fees
- HB 1045Va. Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority; annual mixed beverage performing arts facility license.Took effect 1 July 2026
What it requires: The Board of Directors of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority may issue an annual mixed beverage performing arts facility license to persons operating food concessions at performing arts facilities in the City of Richmond that meet specified criteria including capacity exceeding 400 patrons, a bona fide long-term lease or concession agreement with original term exceeding five years, and monthly gross receipts from food and nonalcoholic beverages meeting Board-established minimums.
Licensing and retail permits
Licensing and retail permits
What it requires: The Board may issue commercial lifestyle center licenses only to commercial owners' associations governing a commercial lifestyle center. The licensee must authorize retail on-premises restaurant tenants to sell alcoholic beverages in designated areas, ensure beverages are in disposable containers displaying the restaurant's name or logo, post boundary signage, and provide adequate security for compliance.
Licensing and retail permits
- SB 868Mixed bev. licensees; prohibition on delivery to consumer of original bottle of alcoholic beverage.Took effect 1 July 2025
What it requires: Mixed beverage licensees and their agents or employees must not deliver to a consumer an original bottle of an alcoholic beverage purchased under their license, whether the closure is broken or unbroken, except as authorized by § 4.1-206.3 or for soju, certain spirits in containers 375 milliliters or smaller with alcohol content no greater than 15 percent by volume that are carbonated and perishable, or spirits in containers 16 ounces or less with alcohol content no greater than 15 percent by volume.
Direct-to-consumer shipping and delivery
What it requires: Licensees authorized to sell wine, beer, or mixed beverages for off-premises consumption may deliver these beverages in closed containers to consumers within Virginia for personal consumption only. Deliveries must occur between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., with no more than four cases of wine or beer per delivery unless advance written notice is given to the Authority. Mixed beverage licensees must serve at least one meal with off-premises sales.
Direct-to-consumer shipping and delivery
What it requires: Persons licensed to sell wine, beer, or mixed beverages at retail for off-premises consumption in Virginia may deliver these beverages in closed containers to consumers for personal consumption only. Deliveries must occur between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., with no more than four cases of wine or beer per delivery unless advance written notice is given to the Authority. Mixed beverage restaurant licensees may deliver no more than four mixed beverages at one time and must serve at least one meal with each sale.
Direct-to-consumer shipping and delivery
What it requires: Manufacturers, bottlers, importers, brokers, and wholesalers of alcoholic beverages are prohibited from acquiring financial interests in retail licensee businesses or premises, with limited exceptions for brewery and winery financing of wholesale licensees under strict conditions, and from making agreements requiring retail licensees to exclude competitors' products.
Three-tier, distribution and franchise
What it requires: Manufacturers, bottlers, importers, brokers, and wholesalers of alcoholic beverages are prohibited from acquiring or holding financial interests in retail licensee businesses or premises, with limited exceptions for financing arrangements, banquet licenses, and specific brewery conduct. They must not make agreements requiring retail licensees to exclude competitors' products.
Three-tier, distribution and franchise
Alcohol in Virginia, by topic
Licensing and retail permits
19 bills, 7 enacted. Enacted in 41 states.
Three-tier, distribution and franchise
8 bills, 4 enacted. Enacted in 23 states.
Direct-to-consumer shipping and delivery
3 bills, 3 enacted. Enacted in 12 states.
Excise taxes and fees
2 bills, 1 enacted. Enacted in 19 states.
Underage sales and liability
2 bills. Enacted in 16 states.
Alcohol bills in Virginia
The bills not yet law, furthest along first, with what each would do.
13Enacted
2Cleared both chambers
6Past committee
12Introduced or inactive
33 bills in scope
Cleared both chambers
2
What it would do: Transfers retail tobacco product licensing from the Department of Taxation to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, requiring separate licenses for each retail location at $750 per application, and establishes new regulations for liquid nicotine and nicotine vapor products including manufacturer certification and directory requirements.
What it would do: Requires persons licensed to sell alcoholic beverages at retail for on-premises consumption to provide free potable water upon request to customers who have placed an order, with violations subject to written warning for first offense and civil penalty for subsequent offenses within three years.
Past committee
6
What it would do: Creates the Virginia Gaming Commission to regulate gaming activities and establishes a new Title 29.5 governing charitable gaming, including bingo, poker tournaments, instant bingo, pull tabs, seal cards, and electronic gaming, with associated penalties for violations.
What it would do: Prohibits possession of open containers of alcoholic beverages and marijuana in motor vehicle passenger areas on public highways, and prohibits consuming alcoholic beverages or marijuana while driving. Creates presumptions of consumption based on open containers and physical characteristics.
What it would do: Allows the Board to appoint distiller's licensees as agents to sell spirits and low alcohol beverage coolers at government stores on distillery premises or at Board-licensed events, with agents receiving at least 20 percent commission and ability to serve samples under specified conditions.
What it would do: Establishes a voluntary no-buy program allowing individuals to refrain from purchasing alcoholic beverages for two years, five years, or lifetime, with names on a confidential excluded persons list. Courts may order placement on this list as a condition of probation or conviction for certain alcohol-related offenses.
What it would do: Establishes the Virginia Gaming Commission and creates Title 29.5 governing charitable gaming, including bingo, raffles, and poker tournaments. Repeals prior gaming statutes and amends numerous Code sections to implement comprehensive gaming regulations and penalties.
What it would do: Amends the food-to-beverage ratio requirement for mixed beverage restaurant, caterer, and limited caterer licensees, requiring a minimum 35 percent food-to-beverage ratio only for licensees with monthly food sales between $4,000 and $20,000, with no ratio requirement for those exceeding $20,000 in monthly food sales.
Introduced or inactive
12
What it would do: Expands the definition of special events for mixed beverage caterer's licenses to include cultural or sporting events sponsored by a locality, destination marketing organization, or regional attractions marketing agency, in addition to private gatherings.
What it would do: Amends Virginia alcoholic beverage control law to allow manufacturers and authorized vendors to provide advertising materials valued at $40 or less to retailers, permits retailers to purchase and display distilled spirits barrels or lids valued up to $250, and allows retailers to display other qualifying advertising materials.
What it would do: Requires the Board to automatically reinstate a retail alcoholic beverage license if it was suspended or revoked solely because the Department of Health revoked or suspended the establishment's food permit, once the food permit is reinstated and the licensee complies with all applicable provisions.
What it would do: Amends Virginia's alcoholic beverage control law to expand designated outdoor refreshment area licenses, allowing nonprofit organizations holding such licenses to obtain additional banquet or mixed beverage special event licenses and to receive sponsorships and donations from manufacturers.
What it would do: Allows manufacturers and authorized vendors to provide advertising materials valued at $40 or less to retail licensees, permits retail licensees to purchase and display distilled spirits barrels or lids separately from bottled contents, and allows retail licensees to display advertising materials valued under $250 obtained from sources other than manufacturers or wholesalers.
What it would do: Amends Virginia's alcoholic beverage control law to authorize the Board to issue on-and-off-premises wine and beer licenses to public golf courses, allowing licensees to sell wine and beer for on-premises consumption in Board-approved areas without monthly food sales requirements.
What it would do: Authorizes small commercial wineries that produce no more than 1,000 gallons of wine per calendar year to sell wine at up to five Board-licensed events per year, including wine they manufacture, wine from contract facilities, and wine purchased from wholesale licensees.
What it would do: Amends Virginia alcoholic beverage control law to expand designated outdoor refreshment area licenses, allowing up to 16 events per year (increased from prior limits) and permitting breweries and wineries to sell beverages at these events, with Board authority to increase frequency upon local ordinance request.
What it would do: Creates a Virginia Gaming Commission to regulate charitable gaming, lotteries, and related activities. Establishes new Title 29.5 with comprehensive gaming regulations, licensing requirements, reporting obligations, and penalties for violations.
What it would do: Amends Virginia's alcoholic beverage advertising law to allow licensed distilleries, wineries, and breweries to advertise alcoholic beverages for charitable sales promotions benefiting charitable organizations, tax-exempt organizations, or educational institutions.
What it would do: Amends Virginia alcoholic beverage control law to create a confectionery mixed beverage retail license authorizing licensees to prepare and sell confectionery containing five percent or less alcohol by volume for on-and-off-premises consumption, with specified packaging and labeling requirements for frozen desserts sold off-premises.
What it would do: Amends Virginia's alcoholic beverage control law to prohibit retail licenses for manufacturers, bottlers, and wholesalers, with exceptions for banquet licenses and certain winery and brewery operations. Permits shared employment between manufacturers and retailers under specified conditions.
Bill titles link to the Virginia Legislature's own page.
What counts as alcohol legislation
In scope: Direct-to-consumer shipping and delivery; three-tier, distribution and franchise; licensing and retail permits; excise taxes and fees; hemp and THC beverages; and underage sales and liability.
Questions
Does Virginia have an alcohol law?
Yes. Virginia enacted 13 alcohol laws in the 2025 and 2026 sessions, among them HB 1343, HB 975 and SB 424. Each is listed on this page with what it requires.
When do Virginia's alcohol laws take effect?
HB 1343 on 1 July 2026, HB 975 on 1 July 2026, SB 788 on 1 July 2026, HB 1045 on 1 July 2026 and SB 14 on 1 July 2026. The others have no single date in their text.
Which alcohol bills are moving in Virginia?
8 bills not yet law have passed a committee or a chamber, the furthest along HB 308 (vetoed), HB 1994 (vetoed) and HB 271 (passed chamber).
What does Virginia legislate on most in alcohol?
Licensing and retail permits (19 bills), Three-tier, distribution and franchise (8 bills) and Direct-to-consumer shipping and delivery (3 bills).
Are these summaries reviewed by a lawyer?
No. Which bills count as Alcohol bills, and the line on what each law requires or each bill would do, are drafted by software from the bill's own text and not reviewed by an attorney. Every bill links to the legislature's own record: read the text before relying on it. The list covers bills from the 2025 and 2026 sessions.
Other practice areas in Virginia
- AI in Virginia63
- Cannabis in Virginia38
- Children's Online Safety in Virginia19
- Cybersecurity in Virginia6
- Data center and energy in Virginia83
- Data Privacy in Virginia60
- Employment in Virginia144
- Healthcare in Virginia231
- Insurance in Virginia158
- Intellectual Property in Virginia13
- Packaging and PFAS in Virginia13
- Payments and fintech in Virginia12
- Rental housing in Virginia72
- Tobacco and nicotine in Virginia18
- Transportation in Virginia18
- All jurisdictions
Alcohol legislation in other jurisdictions
52 more currently hold bills in this tracker
- Massachusetts153
- Maryland142
- New York118
- New Jersey114
- Mississippi56
- Montana53
- Texas49
- West Virginia48
- Oklahoma44
- Michigan39
- Pennsylvania38
- Iowa36
- Illinois32
- Missouri32
- California31
- Hawaii30
- Rhode Island27
- South Carolina27
- Connecticut25
- Tennessee25
- Washington25
- Florida24
- Indiana24
- New Hampshire24
- Kentucky20
- Louisiana20
- Maine18
- Alabama17
- Arkansas16
- Delaware16
- Congress16
- Minnesota15
- North Carolina15
- Nebraska15
- Arizona14
- Georgia13
- Idaho13
- Vermont13
- Kansas11
- Colorado10
- New Mexico10
- Oregon10
- District of Columbia9
- Ohio9
- South Dakota9
- Alaska7
- North Dakota6
- Nevada6
- Utah6
- Wisconsin6
- Puerto Rico3
- Wyoming3
Know when Virginia's alcohol law changes
An alert when a bill moves, and one report a month on what changed in every state and Congress.