Virginia Law

Distribution of novelty and specialty items, including wearing apparel bearing alcoholic beverage advertising, shall be subject to the following limitations and conditions:

1. Items not in excess of $10 in wholesale value may be given away. No manufacturer, importer, bottler, broker, wholesaler, or representative of such manufacturer, importer, bottler, broker, or wholesaler may give such items to patrons on the premises of retail licensees; however, a manufacturer or the manufacturer's authorized representative, other than wholesalers, conducting tastings pursuant to the provisions of § 4.1-201.1 of the Code of Virginia, may give no more than one such item to each consumer provided a sample of alcoholic beverages during the tasting event;

2. Items bearing moderation and responsible drinking messages may be displayed by the licensee and the licensee's employees on the licensed premises and given to patrons on such premises as long as any references to any alcoholic beverage manufacturer or the alcoholic beverage manufacturer's brands are subordinate in type size and quantity of text to such moderation message;

3. Items in excess of $10 in wholesale value may be donated by distilleries, wineries, and breweries only to participants or entrants in connection with the sponsorship of conservation and environmental programs, professional, semi-professional, or amateur athletic and sporting events subject to the limitations of 3VAC5-20-100, and for events of a charitable or cultural nature;

4. Items may be sold by mail upon request or over the counter at retail establishments customarily engaged in the sale of novelties and specialties, provided the items are sold at the reasonable open market price in the localities where sold;

5. Wearing apparel shall be in adult sizes;

6. Point-of-sale order blanks relating to novelty and specialty items may be provided by beer and wine wholesalers to retail licensees for use on the retail licensee's premises if done for all retail licensees equally and after obtaining the consent, which may be a continuing consent, of each retailer or the retailer's representative. Wholesalers may not be involved in the redemption process; and

7. Novelty and specialty items bearing alcoholic beverage advertising may not be distributed to persons younger than the legal drinking age.