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Virginia ABC > Enforcement > Hearings and Appeals

Hearings and Appeals

The administrative hearings process addresses disciplinary matters related to ABC law violations, contested license applications and franchise issues.

Hearings are conducted by the Hearings, Appeals and Judicial Services Division, an independent adjudicatory division within Virginia ABC that schedules and conducts hearings on issues brought to the ABC Board for resolution. It is our policy, in compliance with statute and regulation, to conduct full, fair and impartial hearings in an orderly manner according to due process standards.

 
Virginia ABC hearings and law books

The Hearings Process

Initial hearings are conducted by administrative law judges and court reporters, who travel throughout the Commonwealth. They consider the facts and arguments offered and issue a decision. If one of the parties involved is unsatisfied with that decision, they can ask the Board to review the decision by filing a timely appeal in the proper form.
 
Administrative law judge conducting hearing

Scheduled Dockets

A docket is the official schedule of hearings pending before the ABC Board. View the current dockets for initial hearings, franchise hearings, and appeals hearings.
 
Hearing before the ABC Board

Final Decisions

Also called "final board orders," these represent the final outcomes of hearings before the ABC Board, inclusive of all penalties and actions taken. 
 

Additional Resources

 

Register for Licensee Training

The Virginia code provides for a reduction in the length of any suspension and a reduction in the amount of any civil penalty for any retail licensee where the licensee can demonstrate that it provided to its employees alcohol server or seller training certified in advance by Virginia ABC (COV 4.1-227).

 

Consent Settlement Offers

Consent settlement offers are initiated by the Hearings officer based on suggested penalties for first offenses. If offered, licensees may accept these penalties in lieu of a hearing if they have no other administrative violations within a three-year period preceding the new violation 

Order the Virginia Code Book

Virginia Code BookThis convenient handbook provides all Virginia statutes and regulations related to alcohol and alcoholic beverage control. Order now and get your own copies while supplies last! Download the order form (PDF).

Contact Us

Appeals:
(804) 213-4439
Consent settlements:
(804) 213-4444
Dockets / hearings intake:
(804) 213-4440
Final decisions:
(804) 213-4441
FOIA requests:
(804) 213-4447
Offers-in-compromise:
(804) 213-4451
Virginia code requests (§4.1-227)
(804) 213-4447
Chief clerk:

(804) 213-4447

Mailing address
P.O. Box 27491
Richmond, VA 23261-7491
Fax: (804) 213-4731 

Enforcement

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