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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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