Here is a List of Likely New ABC Laws in Virginia for 2014
(All the following bills have passed the House & Senate. The Governor must sign them for them to actually become law on July 1, 2014.)
SB 596: Alcoholic beverage control; state and local license taxes on certain brewery licensees. Imposes a state license tax of $350 and a local license tax of $250 for breweries that manufacture no more than 500 barrels of beer during the licensing year. This bill helps small breweries get started by lowering their licensing costs.
SB 502: Alcoholic beverage control; limited mixed-beverage restaurant licenses. A previous law allows desert shops that are not full fledged restaurants to serve limited quantities (up to 10% of their total gross sales) of liqueurs’ (eg. Bailey’s, Chambourd). This bill allows them to also sell wine, beer, and champagne for on-premises consumption, provided the sale of such alcoholic beverages, together with the sale of dessert wines and liqueur-based drinks, does not exceed the previously agreed 10 percent threshold.
HB 270 & SB 337: Alcoholic beverage control; certain licensees to provide information to consumer while on the premises of licensed retailers. VA law does not allow alcohol manufacturers (e.g. brewers, distillers or wineries) or distributors to sell to the general public. Only retailers can sell to the general public. This bill allows wineries to be present at restaurants and retail shops to explain their wine. It states that any winery or distributor can provide to adult customers of licensed retail establishments information about wine being consumed on such premises. This bill incorporates SB 224 and SB 300.
SB 430: Alcoholic beverage control; limited brewery license created; local regulation of certain activities. Creates a new limited brewery license for breweries who want to sell their beer on the farm where the ingredients are grown and brewed. It allows breweries that manufacture no more than 15,000 barrels of beer per calendar year, are located on a farm in the Commonwealth, and use agricultural products that are grown on the farm in the manufacture of their beer. The bill also limits the restrictions that a local government can place on it by prohibiting the imposition of minimum parking, road access, or road upgrade requirements on any licensed limited brewery.
SB 178: Alcoholic beverage control; handling of tasting fees by sight-seeing carrier. Creates a new permit that allows sight-seeing carriers transporting individuals for compensation to a licensed winery, brewery, or restaurant to collect the licensee’s tasting fees from tour participants for the sole purpose of remitting such fees to the licensee.
SB 104: Alcoholic beverage control; privileges of gift shop licenses. Present law does not allow people to consume alcohol at a retail store which sells alcohol for off premises consumption. This bill expands the privileges of a gift shop license to allow the licensee to give to any person to whom wine or beer may be lawfully sold (i) a sample of wine not to exceed two ounces by volume or (ii) a sample of beer not to exceed four ounces by volume for on-premises consumption. Such licensee may also give samples of wine and beer in designated areas at events held by the licensee for the purpose of featuring and educating the consuming public about the alcoholic beverages being tasted.
HB 1141: Alcoholic beverage control; annual arts venue event license. In order to serve any alcohol for on premises consumption, the establishment must be a full service restaurant. But there are limited exceptions. This bill creates a new annual arts venue event license and sets out the privileges of this new license and the state and local license taxes. The bill defines an arts venue as a commercial or nonprofit establishment that is open to the public and in which works of art are sold or displayed. (Note: I am against all of these exceptions. It is not fair to restaurants who have to pay for a full service kitchen to grant these exceptions. I voted “No” but the bill still passed.)
HB 882: Alcoholic beverage control; sale of wine and cider in growlers. Allows the sale of wine in growlers or other reusable containers that are federally approved, provided such containers are labeled in accordance with Board regulations and limited for use to persons licensed to sell wine at retail for both off-premises and on-premises consumption. The bill also allows the sale of cider in containers that are federally approved, provided such containers are labeled in accordance with Board regulations and limited for use by persons licensed to sell cider at retail for both off-premises and on-premises consumption. The bill contains technical amendments.
HB 282: Alcoholic beverage control; contract winemaking facility; nonpayment. In the past, the law said that a winery can only make wine from grapes grown at its own winery. Last year, a bill was passed that allowed wineries to contract with other wineries to make wine with grapes grown off-site as long as the wine is returned and sold at the original winery. This bill addresses the issue of what happens if the winery #1 sends its grapes to winery #2, but then refuses to pay winery #2. This bill allows winery #2 (called the “contract winemaking facility”) to sell the wine it produced if the terms of payment have not been fulfilled in accordance with the contract with the winery or farm winery that supplied the grapes or other agricultural products.
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Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I was facing a charge of Reckless Driving for speeding on I66 at midnight. This is considered a Class 1 Misdemeanor in the state of Virginia. Having something like Reckless Driving on your record is on par with having a DUI. This charge also carries a chance for jail time (up to a year). I was incredibly scared because I had never faced such a charge. And looking into Virginia Law, my speed exceeded 90mph, which is quite serious. I retained Dave Albo to help me with this case. Since my record was clean, Dave had advised I do the following before my trial. * Take a DMV Driver's Improvement Course * Take a Behavior Modification Course * Do 100 hours of community service * Print my DMV Record one week before the trial On the day of my trial, Dave got my Reckless Driving charge REDUCED to a regular Speeding charge. This was the absolute best case scenario for me. No criminal record. No jail time. No suspension of license. I did receive 6 demerit points and had to pay a fine of $250 (plus court fees). But that's a slap on the wrist, compared to what I could have been facing. Thank you Dave Albo for helping me through this ordeal!Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Dave albo it's a fantastic lawyer. He has helped me twice now with great results both times with minor traffic tickets. I would recommend him to anybody including my family. He has great ethics and honesty which is what I look for in a lawyer .Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Dave was my attorney recently for a car accident where I needed someone to represent me in court. After exchanging all necessary information he reassured me when the court date came that there wouldn’t be anything to worry about. On the day of court a couple problems arose and Dave was able to rectify them quickly, told me everything I need to say if needed and when it was all over he got my violation reduced significantly. I hope to never go to court again but if I do I will being calling Dave again.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Retaining the services of Mr. Albo for traffic court was probably the best decision I made. He is very responsive to emails, knowledgeable, and punctual. He provided excellent advice that eased the panic of having to go to the court house and stand before a judge. I am very happy with the outcome of my visit to traffic court and highly recommend Dave Albo.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mr Albo was very professional and I was pleased with the outcome.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. David was incredible to work with from clear communication and next steps. To showing up to traffic court early to walk over all steps, making case in court as experienced/intelligent/well spoken lawyer. Lastly, he even followed after case in writing to confirm the outcome outlining everything that happened in lamen terms (in my case the best outcome we could ask for). I’m so appreciative to David.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Absolutely top notch representation. Can't thank Dave enough for his knowledge and expertise.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Thanks to Dave Albo for a fantastic job representing me and ensuring the best possible outcome for my case. I highly recommend him - you will be in good hands for sure. From start to finish he provided expert counsel and kept me well informed. He simply could not have done a better job.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am THRILLED with the outcome of my case, all thanks to Attorney Albo's superb expertise, excellent advice & sharp negotiating skills! I am extremely relieved and grateful; I highly recommend retaining his services. Well beyond worth it!!Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Dave did a great job representing me for my traffic court infraction! I wanted the best and his name came up as I searched for an attorney. Highly recommend him on all levels including a successful outcome to my case.
