3VAC5-70-210. Schedule of penalties for first-offense violations.
A. Any licensee charged with any violation of Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (authority) regulations or statutes listed in this subsection, if the licensee has no other pending charges and has not had any substantiated violations of regulation or statute within the three years immediately preceding the date of the violation, may accept an offer by the authority extended in writing to enter a written waiver of hearing and (i) accept the period of license suspension set forth in this subsection for the violation or (ii) pay the civil charge set forth in this subsection for the violation in lieu of suspension. In the case of a violation involving the sale of beer, wine, or mixed beverages to a person at least 18 years of age but younger than 21 years of age or to an intoxicated person or allowing consumption of such beverages by such person, any retail licensee that can demonstrate that it provided alcohol seller or server training certified in advance by the authority to the employee responsible for such violation within the 12 months immediately preceding the alleged violation may accept the lesser period of license suspension or pay the lesser civil charge listed for the violation in lieu of suspension.
VIOLATION | SUSPENSION | CIVIL CHARGE | SUSPENSION WITH CERTIFIED TRAINING | CIVIL CHARGE WITH CERTIFIED TRAINING |
Sale of beer, wine, or mixed beverages to a person at least 18 years of age but younger than 21 years of age. | 25 days | $2,500 | 15 days | $2,000 |
Allowing consumption of beer, wine, or mixed beverages by a person at least 18 years of age but younger than 21 years of age. | 25 days | $2,500 | 15 days | $2,000 |
Aiding and abetting the purchase of alcoholic beverages by a person at least 18 years of age but younger than 21 years of age. | 15 days | $1,500 | ||
Keeping unauthorized alcoholic beverages on the premises, upon which appropriate taxes have been paid. | 10 days | $1,000 | ||
Allow an intoxicated person to loiter on the premises. | 10 days | $1,000 | ||
Sale to an intoxicated person. | 25 days | $2,500 | 15 days | $1,500 |
Allow consumption by an intoxicated person. | 25 days | $2,500 | 15 days | $1,500 |
After hours sales or consumption of alcoholic beverages. | 10 days | $1,500 | ||
No designated manager on premises. | 10 days | $1,000 | ||
Invalid check to wholesaler or authority. | 10 days | $750 | ||
Inadequate illumination. | 10 days | $1,000 | ||
ABC license not posted. | 10 days | $1,000 | ||
Not timely submitting report required by statute or regulation. | 10 days | $1,000 | ||
Designated manager not posted. | 10 days | $1,000 | ||
Person younger than 18 years of age serving alcoholic beverages; younger than 21 years of age acting as bartender. | 10 days | $1,000 | ||
Sale of alcoholic beverages in unauthorized place or manner. | 10 days | $1,500 | ||
Consumption of alcoholic beverages in unauthorized area. | 10 days | $1,000 | ||
Removal of alcoholic beverages from authorized area. | 10 days | $1,000 | ||
Failure to obliterate mixed beverage stamps. | 10 days | $1,000 | ||
Employee on duty consuming alcoholic beverages. | 10 days | $1,000 | ||
Conducting illegal happy hour. | 10 days | $1,000 | ||
Illegally advertising happy hour. | 10 days | $1,000 | ||
Unauthorized advertising. | 10 days | $1,000 | ||
Failure to remit state beer or wine tax (if deficiency has been corrected). | 10 days | $1,500 | ||
Wholesaler sale of beer or wine in unauthorized manner. | 10 days | $1,500 | ||
Wholesaler sale of beer or wine to unauthorized person. | 10 days | $1,500 |
B. For purposes of this section, the authority will certify alcohol seller or server training courses that provide instruction on all the topics listed on the Seller-Server Training Evaluation form. The following steps should be completed to submit a training program for approval:
1. Complete the Alcohol Seller-Server Training Data Sheet and review the Seller-Server Training Evaluation form to make sure the program will meet the listed criteria; and
2. Submit the Alcohol Seller-Server Training Data Sheet and a copy of the proposed training program materials for review. Materials submitted should include copies of any lesson plans and instructional materials used in the training program.
Requests for certification of training courses should be sent to:
Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority | |
Community Health and Engagement | |
P.O. Box 3250 | |
Mechanicsville, VA 23116 | |
Email: education@virginiaabc.com |
Persons in charge of any certified alcohol server training course shall maintain complete records of all training classes conducted, including the date and location of each class and the identity of all those successfully completing the course.
C. For a licensee that operates more than one retail establishment, each such establishment shall be considered a separate licensee for the purpose of this section.
Statutory Authority
§§ 4.1-111 and 4.1-227 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 17, Issue 10, eff. February 28, 2001; amended, Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 12, eff. March 16, 2011; Volume 30, Issue 6, eff. December 18, 2013; Volume 35, Issue 26, eff. September 21, 2019; Volume 41, Issue 11, eff. February 26, 2025.