News Release

January 3, 2008
News Release Contact:
Becky Gettings - (804) 213-4419
E-mail: pubrel@abc.virginia.gov

ABC Launches Wine and Beer Shipping and Delivery Initiative

Special Agents Working to Monitor the Sale of Wine and Beer Into or Within Virginia to Individual Consumers

Richmond - Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Bureau of Law Enforcement special agents will be conducting checks to ensure compliance and deter underage drinking in the statewide wine and beer shipping and delivery initiative.

The objectives of the initiative are three-fold: Verify that retailers are properly licensed; ensure that shipments of wine and/or beer are compliant with quantity limitations; and monitor and verify that the delivery was handled by one of the authorized carriers and done so according to the law. A very important component of this initiative will involve checking that the person signing for the alcohol delivery is of legal age.

In Virginia, retailers who have an ABC shipper's license may sell wine online and ship up to two cases of wine per month to a person in the Commonwealth. Direct shipments of beer and wine are permitted through common transportation carriers approved by ABC: DHL Worldwide Express, Federal Express, Federal Express Ground, Loadsource Logistics, and Principal Deliveries. Recipients of the alcohol must prove they are 21 at the time of delivery and sign an electronic or paper form. Any violation is considered a criminal offense, which carries a maximum penalty of up to 12 months in jail, up to $2,500 fine and refusal to grant ability to do business in the Commonwealth.