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Virginia ABC is charged with enforcing the laws of the Commonwealth pertaining to the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages. This responsibility is met by the Bureau of Law Enforcement, which also serves as a key resource for information about Virginia alcohol laws.
Virginia ABC special agents have full police powers with a diverse range of duties—from investigating license applicants and conducting underage sale compliance checks, to enforcing ABC laws in nearly 19,000 licensed establishments. They also investigate and prosecute criminal activities ranging from drugs, gangs and gambling, to money laundering and tax evasion.
Working with Licensees
Committed to working with licensees in a transparent, fair and impartial way, special agents are the primary resource for questions related to operating a business with an ABC license. Contact a special agent via your regional ABC office. Special agents also conduct free licensee training.
Agent Recruitment
Virginia ABC special agents, more than 100 across the state, are sworn police officers vested with statewide authority of arrest. Special agents are recruited from a competitive applicant pool, providing an increasingly diverse workforce. Learn more about becoming an ABC special agent.
Contact an ABC Regional Enforcement Office
Do you have a question regarding Virginia’s alcohol laws? Contact the special agent in your area for an answer. Virginia ABC’s Bureau of Law Enforcement has nine regional offices and one satellite office that serve as points of contact for citizens and licensees. Visit our regional offices page to find contact information for your local office.
Regional Offices
The Bureau of Law Enforcement has nine regional offices and one satellite office that serve as points of contact for citizens and licensees.
Circular Letters
Circular letters are periodically issued by the Bureau of Law Enforcement to communicate changes in ABC regulations to the licensee community. They are available in the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall.
ABC Violations
Please see Final Decisions and Scheduled Dockets for list of statutory and regulatory violations that have been adjudicated or are pending.
