Enforcement

Thanks to Virginia ABC’s community policing training program, law enforcement agencies around the state are better equipped to respond to the most pressing alcohol-related problems in their jurisdictions. Virginia ABC has held 37 sessions within the program, which includes core instruction about the role of local police in the enforcement of alcohol laws and regulations. The program, which launched in 2016, was supported by a grant administered by the National Liquor Law Enforcement Association (NLLEA) and funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Virginia ABC Bureau of Law Enforcement is continuing the training program as part of its commitment to collaborating with local police and licensees to proactively reduce incidents involving alcohol.

Virginia ABC recently celebrated the relocation of its Staunton regional office. That office serves more than 1,300 licensees in ten counties and six cities in the Shenandoah Valley and Virginia Highlands. To inquire about applications, renewals or other enforcement issues, contact your regional office.

In December 2015, the Bureau of Law Enforcement received accreditation from the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission, putting it in an elite group of enforcement agencies. The accreditation program is a thorough inspection and review of agency policies, procedures, processes and operations as defined by 190 stringent standards.

Because laws and cultural traditions surrounding alcohol differ throughout the world, Virginia ABC translated important alcohol-related laws into Spanish to better serve its Hispanic citizens and businesses. Read more.

Are you relocating to the commonwealth? Will you be importing wine, beer or spirits as part of your items? The Code of Virginia states that if you bring more than a gallon of alcoholic beverages into Virginia with your household goods, you need to complete a form. Read more.