LIS

Administrative Code

Virginia Administrative Code
2/17/2025

Chapter 30. Tied-House

3VAC5-30-10. Rotation and exchange of stocks of retailers by wholesalers; permitted and prohibited acts.

A. Permitted acts. Manufacturers, importers, bottlers, brokers, or wholesalers or representatives may perform the following services for a retailer upon consent, which may be a continuing consent, of the retailer:

1. Rotate, repack, and rearrange alcoholic beverages in a display (e.g., shelves, coolers, cold boxes, and floor displays in a sales area);

2. Restock alcoholic beverages;

3. Rotate, repack, rearrange, and add to the retailer's own stocks of alcoholic beverages in a storeroom space assigned to the individual by the retailer;

4. Transfer alcoholic beverages between storerooms, between displays, and between storerooms and displays; and

5. Create or build original displays using alcoholic beverages only.

B. Prohibited acts. No manufacturer, importer, bottler, broker, or wholesaler, or representative may:

1. Alter or disturb in any way the merchandise sold by another manufacturer, importer, bottler, broker, or wholesaler, whether in a display, sales area, or storeroom, except in the following cases:

a. When the products of one manufacturer, importer, bottler, broker, or wholesaler have been erroneously placed in the area previously assigned by the retailer to another manufacturer, importer, bottler, broker, or wholesaler; or

b. When a floor display area previously assigned by a retailer to one manufacturer, importer, bottler, broker, or wholesaler has been reassigned by the retailer to another manufacturer, importer, bottler, broker, or wholesaler;

2. Mark or affix retail prices to products other than those sold by the manufacturer, importer, bottler, broker, or wholesaler to the retailer; or

3. Sell or offer to sell alcoholic beverages to a retailer with the privilege of return, except for ordinary and usual commercial reasons as set forth in this subdivision:

a. Products defective at the time of delivery may be replaced;

b. Products erroneously delivered may be replaced or money refunded;

c. Products for which a manufacturer or importer discontinues production or importation may be returned and money refunded if no lawful exchange under subdivision 3 g of this subsection is available and if prior written approval is provided by the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (authority);

d. Resalable draft beer may be returned and money refunded;

e. Products in the possession of a retail licensee whose license is terminated by operation of law, voluntary surrender, or order of the authority may be returned and money refunded upon written approval by the authority;

f. Products that have been deemed a threat to public safety or are not permitted to be sold in the Commonwealth may be replaced or money refunded upon written approval by the authority; or

g. Alcoholic beverages may be exchanged on an identical quantity and brand basis for quality control purposes. Where production of the product has been discontinued, the distributor may exchange the discontinued product for quality control purposes with a product from the same manufacturer on an identical quantity and comparable wholesale price basis. Any such exchange shall be documented by the word "exchange" on the proper invoice.

Statutory Authority

§ 4.1-111 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR125-01-3 § 1, eff. December 12, 1985; amended, Virginia Register Volume 3, Issue 1, eff. November 12, 1986; Volume 4, Issue 6, January 21, 1988; Volume 5, Issue 2, eff. November 24, 1988; Volume 6, Issue 2, eff. November 23, 1989; Volume 7, Issue 4, eff. December 19, 1990; Volume 8, Issue 6, eff. January 15, 1992; Volume 9, Issue 6, eff. January 13, 1993; Volume 10, Issue 11, eff. March 23, 1994; Volume 21, Issue 19, eff. June 29, 2005; Volume 26, Issue 11, eff. March 5, 2010; Volume 30, Issue 6, eff. December 18, 2013; Volume 41, Issue 11, eff. February 12, 2025.

3VAC5-30-20. Restrictions upon employment; exceptions.

No retail licensee shall employ in any capacity at the licensed business any person engaged or employed in the manufacturing, bottling, or wholesaling of alcoholic beverages; nor shall any licensed manufacturer, bottler, or wholesaler employ in any capacity at the licensed business any person engaged or employed in the retailing of alcoholic beverages.

This section shall not apply to banquet licensees, farm winery licensees, or winery licensees, nor shall this section apply in any situation in which the manufacturer, bottler, or wholesaler does not sell or otherwise furnish, directly or indirectly, alcoholic beverages or other merchandise to the retailer.

Statutory Authority

§ 4.1-111 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR125-01-3 § 2, eff. December 12, 1985; amended, Virginia Register Volume 3, Issue 1, eff. November 12, 1986; Volume 4, Issue 6, January 21, 1988; Volume 5, Issue 2, eff. November 24, 1988; Volume 6, Issue 2, eff. November 23, 1989; Volume 7, Issue 4, eff. December 19, 1990; Volume 8, Issue 6, eff. January 15, 1992; Volume 9, Issue 6, eff. January 13, 1993; Volume 10, Issue 11, eff. March 23, 1994; Volume 26, Issue 11, eff. March 5, 2010; Volume 30, Issue 6, eff. December 18, 2013; Volume 41, Issue 11, eff. February 12, 2025.

3VAC5-30-30.  Payment and recordkeeping requirements for certain transactions.

A. Sales of wine or beer between wholesale and retail licensees of the authority shall be for cash paid and collected at the time of or prior to delivery, except where payment is to be made by electronic funds transfer as provided in this section. Each invoice covering such a sale or any other sale shall be signed by the purchaser at the time of delivery and shall specify the manner of payment.

B. "Cash," as used in this section, shall include (i) legal tender of the United States, (ii) a money order issued by a duly licensed firm authorized to engage in such business in the Commonwealth, (iii) a valid check drawn upon a bank account in the name of the licensee or permittee or in the trade name of the licensee or permittee making the purchase, or (iv) an electronic funds transfer initiated by a wholesaler pursuant to subsection D of this section from a bank account in the name or trade name of the retail licensee making a purchase from a wholesaler or the authority.

C. If a check, money order, or electronic funds transfer is used, the following provisions apply:

1. If only alcoholic beverage merchandise is being sold, the amount of the checks, money orders, or electronic funds transfers shall be no larger than the purchase price of the alcoholic beverages; and

2. If nonalcoholic merchandise is also sold to the retailer, the check, money order, or electronic funds transfer may be in an amount no larger than the total purchase price of the alcoholic beverages and nonalcoholic beverage merchandise. If a separate invoice is used for the nonalcoholic merchandise, a copy of it shall be attached to the copies of the alcoholic beverage invoices that are retained in the records of the wholesaler and the retailer. If a single invoice is used for both the alcoholic beverages and nonalcoholic beverage merchandise, the alcoholic beverage items shall be separately identified and totaled.

D. If an electronic funds transfer is used for payment by a licensed retailer or a permittee for any purchase from a wholesaler or the authority, the following provisions shall apply:

1. Prior to an electronic funds transfer, the retail licensee shall enter into a written agreement with the wholesaler specifying the terms and conditions for an electronic funds transfer in payment for the delivery of wine or beer to that retail licensee. The electronic funds transfer shall be initiated by the wholesaler no later than one business day after delivery, and the wholesaler's account shall be credited by the retailer's bank no later than the following business day. The electronic funds transfer agreement shall incorporate the requirements of this subdivision, but this subdivision shall not preclude an agreement with more restrictive provisions. For purposes of this subdivision, the term "business day" shall mean a business day of the respective bank;

2. The wholesaler must generate an invoice covering the sale of wine or beer and shall specify that payment is to be made by electronic funds transfer. Each invoice must be signed by the purchaser at the time of delivery; and

3. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require that any licensee must accept payment by electronic funds transfer.

E. Wholesalers shall maintain on their licensed premises records of all invalid checks received from retail licensees for the payment of wine or beer, as well as any stop payment order, insufficient fund report, or any other incomplete electronic funds transfer reported by the retailer's bank in response to a wholesaler-initiated electronic funds transfer from the retailer's bank account. Further, wholesalers shall report to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (authority) any invalid checks or incomplete electronic funds transfer reports received in payment of wine or beer when either (i) any such invalid check or incomplete electronic funds transfer is not satisfied by the retailer within seven days after notice of the invalid check or a report of the incomplete electronic funds transfer is received by the wholesaler, or (ii) the wholesaler has received, whether satisfied or not, either more than one such invalid check from any single retail licensee or received more than one incomplete electronic funds transfer report from the bank of any single retail licensee, or any combination of the two, within a period of 180 days. Such reports shall be upon a form provided by the authority and in accordance with the instructions set forth in such form.

F. Payments to the authority for the following items shall be for cash, as defined in subsection B of this section:

1. State license taxes and application fees;

2. Wine taxes and excise taxes on beer and wine coolers;

3. Solicitors' permit fees and temporary permit fees;

4. Registration and certification fees, and the markup or profit on cider, collected pursuant to authority regulations];

5. Civil penalties or charges and costs imposed on licensees and permittees by the authority; and

6. Forms provided to licensees and permittees at cost by the authority.

Payments to the authority may be made directly through the authority's licensing system software.

G. With respect to payments to the authority for any purchase or series of purchases at government stores by licensees, such payments shall be for cash, as defined in subsection B of this section, credit card, or debit card and comply with the provisions in § 4.1-119 H of the Code of Virginia.

Statutory Authority

§ 4.1-111 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR125-01-3 § 3, eff. December 12, 1985; amended, Virginia Register Volume 3, Issue 1, eff. November 12, 1986; Volume 4, Issue 6, January 21, 1988; Volume 5, Issue 2, eff. November 24, 1988; Volume 6, Issue 2, eff. November 23, 1989; Volume 7, Issue 4, eff. December 19, 1990; Volume 8, Issue 6, eff. January 15, 1992; Volume 9, Issue 6, eff. January 13, 1993; Volume 10, Issue 11, eff. March 23, 1994; Volume 21, Issue 19, eff. June 29, 2005; Volume 30, Issue 6, eff. December 18, 2013; Volume 39, Issue 15, eff. April 27, 2023; Volume 41, Issue 11, eff. February 12, 2025.

3VAC5-30-40. Deposits on containers required; records; redemption of deposits; exceptions.

A. Wholesalers shall collect a deposit in cash at or prior to the time of delivery of any beer sold to a retail licensee for bottles; cardboard, fiber, or composition cases; kegs; and tapping equipment, cooling tubs, and cold plates for use by consumers.

A wholesaler shall charge the same deposit fee for all of the wholesaler's retailers.

B. The sales ticket or invoice shall reflect the deposit charge and shall be preserved as a part of the licensee's records.

C. Deposits shall be refunded upon the return of containers in good condition.

D. Deposits shall not be required on containers sold as nonreturnable items.

Statutory Authority

§§ 4.1-103 and 4.1-111 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR125-01-3 § 4, eff. December 12, 1985; amended, Virginia Register Volume 3, Issue 1, eff. November 12, 1986; Volume 4, Issue 6, January 21, 1988; Volume 5, Issue 2, eff. November 24, 1988; Volume 6, Issue 2, eff. November 23, 1989; Volume 7, Issue 4, eff. December 19, 1990; Volume 8, Issue 6, eff. January 15, 1992; Volume 9, Issue 6, eff. January 13, 1993; Volume 10, Issue 11, eff. March 23, 1994; Volume 41, Issue 11, eff. February 12, 2025.

3VAC5-30-50. Solicitation of licensees by wine and beer solicitor salespersons or representatives.

A. A permit is not required to solicit or promote wine or beer to wholesale or retail licensees, including mixed beverage licensees, by a wine or beer solicitor salesperson who represents any winery, brewery, wholesaler, or importer licensed in the Commonwealth engaged in the sale of wine and beer. Further, a permit is not required to sell, which shall include the solicitation or receipt of orders, wine or beer to wholesale or retail licensees, including mixed beverage licensees, by a wine or beer solicitor salesperson who represents any winery, brewery, or wholesaler licensed in the Commonwealth engaged in the sale of wine and beer.

B. A permit is required to solicit or promote wine or beer to wholesale or retail licensees, including mixed beverage licensees, by a wine or beer solicitor salesperson or representative of any out-of-state wholesaler engaged in the sale of wine or beer. A permit under this section shall not authorize the sale of wine by the permittee, the direct solicitation or receipt of orders for wine, or the negotiation of any contract or contract terms for the sale of wine unless such sale, receipt, or negotiations are conducted in the presence of a licensed Virginia wholesaler or importer or such Virginia wholesaler's or importer's solicitor salesperson or representative. In order to obtain a permit, a person:

1. Shall register with the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (authority) by filing an application on such forms as prescribed by the authority; and

2. Shall be 18 years of age or older to solicit or promote the sale of wine or beer; may not be employed at the same time by an out-of-state wholesaler engaged in the sale of wine or beer and by a licensee to solicit the sale of or sell wine or beer; and shall not be in violation of 3VAC5-30-20.

C. Each permit shall expire yearly on June 30 unless sooner suspended or revoked by the authority.

D. Solicitation and promotion under this chapter may include educational programs regarding wine or beer for mixed beverage licensees but shall not include the promotion of or educational programs related to spirits or the use of spirits in mixed drinks unless a spirits solicitor's permit has been obtained in addition to a solicitor's permit.

E. For the purposes of this chapter, the soliciting or promoting of wine or beer shall be distinguished from the sale of such products, the direct solicitation, or receipt of orders for alcoholic beverages or the negotiation of any contract or contract terms for the sale of alcoholic beverages. This chapter shall not be deemed to regulate the representative of a manufacturer, importer, or wholesaler from merely calling on retail licensees to check on market conditions, the freshness of products on the shelf or in stock, the percentage or nature of display space, or the collection of similar information where solicitation or product promotion is not involved.

Statutory Authority

§ 4.1-111 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR125-01-3 § 5, eff. December 12, 1985; amended, Virginia Register Volume 3, Issue 1, eff. November 12, 1986; Volume 4, Issue 6, January 21, 1988; Volume 5, Issue 2, eff. November 24, 1988; Volume 6, Issue 2, eff. November 23, 1989; Volume 7, Issue 4, eff. December 19, 1990; Volume 8, Issue 6, eff. January 15, 1992; Volume 9, Issue 6, eff. January 13, 1993; Volume 10, Issue 11, eff. March 23, 1994; Volume 38, Issue 1, eff. January 1, 2022; Volume 41, Issue 11, eff. February 12, 2025.

3VAC5-30-60. Inducements to retailers;  alcohol tapping equipment; bottle or can openers; spirits back-bar pedestals; paper, cardboard or plastic advertising materials; clip-ons and table tents; sanctions and penalties.

A. Any manufacturer, importer, bottler, broker, or wholesaler of alcoholic beverages or representative of such manufacturer, importer, bottler, broker, or wholesaler may sell, rent, lend, buy for, or give to any retailer, without regard to the value thereof, the following:

1. Alcoholic beverage knobs containing advertising, which shall include the brand name and may further include only trademarks, housemarks, and slogans and shall not include any illuminating devices or be otherwise adorned with mechanical devices that are not essential in the dispensing of draft beer or wine;

2. Clip-ons and table tents; and

3. Tapping equipment, defined as all the parts of the mechanical system required for dispensing draft beer in a normal manner from the gas pressure tank through the beer faucet, excluding the following:

a. The carbonic acid gas in containers, except that such gas may be sold only at the reasonable open market price in the locality where sold;

b. Gas pressure gauges, which may be sold at cost;

c. Draft arms or standards;

d. Draft boxes;

e. Refrigeration equipment or components thereof; and

f. Carbon dioxide filters, which may be provided and installed without cost.

Further, a manufacturer, bottler, or wholesaler may sell, rent, or lend to any retailer, for use only by a purchaser of draft beer in kegs or barrels from such retailer, whatever tapping equipment may be necessary for the purchaser to extract such draft beer from its container.

B. Any manufacturer, importer, bottler, broker, or wholesaler or representative of such manufacturers, importers, bottlers, brokers, or wholesalers may sell to and install in any retailer's establishment dispensing accessories, such as standards, faucets, rods, vents, taps, tap standards, hoses, cold plates, washers, couplings, gas gauges, vent tongues, shanks, and check valves, and carbon dioxide and other gases used in dispensing equipment at a price not less than the cost of the industry member who initially purchased them, and if the price is collected within 30 days of the date of sale. Manufacturers, importers, bottlers, brokers, or wholesalers of alcoholic beverages or the representatives of such manufacturers, importers, bottlers, brokers, or wholesalers may clean and service, either for free or for compensation, coils and other similar equipment used in dispensing alcoholic beverages and may sell solutions or compounds for cleaning alcoholic beverage glasses, provided the reasonable open market price is charged.

C. Any beer tapping equipment may be converted for wine tapping by the beer wholesaler who originally placed the equipment on the premises of the retail licensee, provided that such beer wholesaler is also a wine wholesaler licensee. Moreover, at the time such equipment is converted for wine tapping, it shall be sold, or have previously been sold, to the retail licensee at a price not less than the initial purchase price paid by such wholesaler.

D. Any manufacturer, bottler, or wholesaler of alcoholic beverages may sell or give to any retailer bottle or can openers upon which advertising is displayed, provided the wholesale value of any such openers given to a retailer does not exceed $20. Openers in excess of $20 in wholesale value may be sold, provided the reasonable open market price is charged.

E. Any manufacturer of spirits may sell, lend, buy for, or give to any retail licensee, without regard to the value thereof, back-bar pedestals to be used on the retail premises and upon which advertising regarding spirits may appear.

F. Any manufacturer, importer, bottler, or wholesaler of alcoholic beverages licensed in the Commonwealth may sell ice to retail licensees, provided the reasonable open market price is charged.

Statutory Authority

§ 4.1-111 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR125-01-3 § 6, eff. December 12, 1985; amended, Virginia Register Volume 3, Issue 1, eff. November 12, 1986; Volume 4, Issue 6, January 21, 1988; Volume 5, Issue 2, eff. November 24, 1988; Volume 6, Issue 2, eff. November 23, 1989; Volume 7, Issue 4, eff. December 19, 1990; Volume 8, Issue 6, eff. January 15, 1992; Volume 9, Issue 6, eff. January 13, 1993; Volume 10, Issue 11, eff. March 23, 1994; Volume 18, Issue 23, eff. August 28, 2002; Volume 21, Issue 19, eff. June 29, 2005; Volume 26, Issue 11, eff. March 5, 2010; Volume 30, Issue 6, eff. December 18, 2013; Volume 33, Issue 8, eff. February 3, 2017; Volume 41, Issue 11, eff. February 12, 2025.

3VAC5-30-70. Routine business entertainment; conditions.

A. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a wholesaler, manufacturer, importer, or broker of alcoholic beverages licensed in the Commonwealth from providing a retail licensee routine business entertainment.

B. The following conditions apply:

1. Such routine business entertainment shall be provided without a corresponding obligation on the part of the retail licensee to purchase alcoholic beverages or to provide any other benefit to such wholesaler or manufacturer or to exclude from sale the products of any other wholesaler or manufacturer;

2. Wholesaler or manufacturer personnel shall accompany the personnel of the retail licensee during such business entertainment;

3. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize the providing of property or any other thing of value to retail licensees;

4. No more than $400 may be spent per 24-hour period on any employee of any retail licensee, including a self-employed sole proprietor, or, if the licensee is a partnership, on any partner or employee of the partnership, or if the licensee is a corporation, on any corporate officer, director, shareholder of 10% or more of the stock, or other employee, such as a buyer. Expenditures attributable to the spouse of any such employee, partnership, or stockholder, and the like shall not be included within the restrictions of this subdivision;

5. No person enumerated in subdivision 4 of this subsection may be entertained more than six times by a wholesaler and six times by a manufacturer per calendar year;

6. Wholesale licensees and manufacturers shall keep complete and accurate records for a period of three years of all expenses incurred in the entertainment of retail licensees. These records shall indicate the date and amount of each expenditure, the type of entertainment activity, and the retail licensee entertained; and

7. This section shall not apply to personal friends of manufacturers, importers, bottlers, brokers, or wholesalers as provided for in 3VAC5-70-100.

Statutory Authority

§ 4.1-111 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR125-01-3 § 7, eff. December 12, 1985; amended, Virginia Register Volume 3, Issue 1, eff. November 12, 1986; Volume 4, Issue 6, January 21, 1988; Volume 5, Issue 2, eff. November 24, 1988; Volume 6, Issue 2, eff. November 23, 1989; Volume 7, Issue 4, eff. December 19, 1990; Volume 8, Issue 6, eff. January 15, 1992; Volume 9, Issue 6, eff. January 13, 1993; Volume 10, Issue 11, eff. March 23, 1994; Volume 21, Issue 19, eff. June 29, 2005; Volume 30, Issue 6, eff. December 18, 2013; Volume 41, Issue 11, eff. February 12, 2025.

3VAC5-30-80. Advertising materials that may be provided to retailers by manufacturers, importers, bottlers, or wholesalers.

A. There shall be no cooperative advertising between a producer, manufacturer, bottler, importer, or wholesaler and a retailer of alcoholic beverages, except as may be authorized by regulation pursuant to § 4.1-216 of the Code of Virginia. The term "cooperative advertising" shall mean the payment or credit, directly or indirectly, by any manufacturer, bottler, importer, or wholesaler, whether licensed in the Commonwealth or not, to a retailer for all or any portion of advertising done by the retailer.

B. Manufacturers or their authorized vendors as defined in § 4.1-216.1 of the Code of Virginia and wholesalers of alcoholic beverages may sell, lend, buy for, or give to retailers any nonilluminated advertising materials made of paper, cardboard, canvas, rubber, foam, or plastic, provided the advertising materials have a wholesale value of $40 or less per item. Advertising material referring to any brand or manufacturer of spirits may only be provided to mixed beverage licensees and may not be provided by beer and wine wholesalers or their employees, unless they hold a spirits solicitor's permit.

C. Manufacturers, bottlers, or wholesalers may supply to retailers napkins, placemats, and coasters that contain (i) a reference to the name of a brand of nonalcoholic beer or nonalcoholic wine or (ii) a message relating solely to and promoting moderation and responsible drinking, which may contain the name, logo, and address of the sponsoring manufacturer, bottler, or wholesaler, provided such recognition is subordinate to the message.

D. Any manufacturer, including any vendor authorized by any such manufacturer, whether or not licensed in the Commonwealth, may sell service items bearing alcoholic brand references to on-premises retail licensees. Such retail licensee may display the service items on the premises of the licensed establishment. Each such retail licensee purchasing such service items shall retain a copy of the evidence of the payment to the manufacturer or authorized vendor for a period of not less than two years from the date of each sale of the service items. As used in this subdivision, "service items" means articles of tangible personal property normally used by the employees of on-premises licensees to serve alcoholic beverages to customers, including glasses, napkins, buckets, and coasters.

E. Alcoholic beverage "neckers," recipe booklets, brochures relating to the alcoholic beverage manufacturing process, vineyard, brewery, and distillery geography or history of an alcoholic beverage manufacturing area, and point-of-sale entry blanks relating to contests and sweepstakes may be provided by manufacturers, importers, bottlers, brokers, or wholesalers to retail licensees for use on retail premises if such items are offered to all retail licensees equally and the manufacturer, importer, bottler, broker, or wholesaler has obtained the consent, which may be a continuing consent, of each retailer or the retailer's representative. Wholesale licensees in the Commonwealth may not put entry blanks on the package. Solicitors holding permits under the provisions of 3VAC5-60-80 may provide point-of-sale entry blanks relating to contests and sweepstakes to mixed beverage licensees for use on the premises if such items are offered to all mixed beverage licensees equally and the solicitor has obtained the consent, which may be a continuous consent, of each mixed beverage licensee or the licensee's representative.

F. Manufacturers, importers, bottlers, brokers, or wholesalers or representatives may supply refund coupons if the coupons are supplied, displayed, and used in accordance with 3VAC5-20-90.

G. No manufacturer, bottler, wholesaler, or importer of alcoholic beverages, whether licensed in the Commonwealth or not, may directly or indirectly sell, rent, lend, buy for, or give to any retailer any advertising materials, decorations, or furnishings under any circumstances otherwise prohibited by law, nor may any retailer induce, attempt to induce, or consent to any such supplier of alcoholic beverages furnishing such retailer any such advertising.

H. Any advertising materials provided for in this section that may have been obtained by any retail licensee from any manufacturer, bottler, broker, importer, or wholesaler of alcoholic beverages, may be installed in the interior of the licensed establishment by any such industry member or the industry member's representatives using any normal and customary installation materials. With the consent of the retail licensee, which may be a continuing consent, manufacturers, importers, bottlers, brokers, or wholesalers or representatives may mark or affix retail prices on these materials.

I. Every retail licensee who obtains any point-of-sale advertising shall keep a complete, accurate, and separate record of all such material obtained. Such records shall show (i) the name and address of the person from whom the material was obtained; (ii) the date furnished; (iii) the item furnished; and (iv) the price charged. All such records, invoices, and accounts shall be kept by each such licensee at the place designated in the license for a period of two years and shall be available for inspection and copying by any member of the board or the board's special agents during reasonable hours.

J. No alcoholic beverage manufacturer, importer, or wholesale licensee may sell, rent, lend, buy for, or give to any retail licensee any outdoor alcoholic beverage advertising, any billboard placements for such advertising, or in any other way confer on any retail licensee anything of value that constitutes outdoor alcoholic beverage advertising.

K. No alcoholic beverage manufacturer, importer, or wholesale licensee may engage in cooperative advertising, as defined in this section, on behalf of any retail licensee.

L. Manufacturers of alcoholic beverages and their authorized vendors or wholesalers of wine or beer may sell at the reasonable wholesale price to banquet licensees glass, paper , or plastic cups upon which advertising matter regarding alcoholic beverages may appear.

M. No manufacturer, importer, bottler, broker, or wholesaler of alcoholic beverages or representative of such manufacturer, importer, bottler, broker, or wholesaler may provide point-of-sale advertising for any alcoholic beverage or any nonalcoholic beer or nonalcoholic wine to retail licensees, except in accordance with this section. Manufacturers, importers, bottlers, brokers, and wholesalers or representatives of such manufacturers, importers, bottlers, brokers, or wholesalers may provide advertising materials to any retail licensee that have been customized for that retail licensee, including the name, logo, address, and website of the retail licensee, provided that such advertising materials must:

1. Comply with all other applicable regulations of the authority;

2. Be for interior use only;

3. Contain references to the alcoholic beverage products or brands offered for sale by the manufacturer, bottler, or wholesaler providing such materials and to no other products; and

4. Be made available to all retail licensees.

Statutory Authority

§ 4.1-111 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 11, eff. March 5, 2010; amended, Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 6, eff. December 18, 2013; Volume 41, Issue 11, eff. February 12, 2025.

3VAC5-30-90. Price discrimination; inducements.

A. No wholesale wine or beer licensee shall discriminate in price of alcoholic beverages between different retail purchasers, except where the difference in price charged by such wholesale licensee is due to:

1. Acceptance or rejection by a retail purchaser of terms or conditions affecting a price offer, including a quantity discount, as long as such terms or conditions are offered on an equal basis to all retailers;

2. A bona fide difference in the cost of sale or delivery; or

3. The wholesale licensee charging a lower price in good faith to meet an equally low price charged by a competing wholesale licensee on a brand and package of like grade and quality.

Where such difference in price charged to any such retail purchaser does occur, the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (authority) may ask for and the wholesale licensee shall furnish written substantiation for the price difference.

B. Notwithstanding subsection A of this section, wholesale wine licensees may differentiate in the pricing between retail purchasers with on-premises and off-premises privileges. However, there shall be no discrimination in pricing among retail licensee purchasers with on-premises privileges and no discrimination in pricing among retail licensee purchasers with off-premises privileges, unless the conditions in subsection A of this section are present. Price differentiations shall be subject to the following provisions:

1. The wholesale price provided for differentiation to a retailer with on-premises and off-premises privileges shall be based on which privilege generates the majority of the business revenue.

2. Licensees with on-premises and off-premises privileges who choose to accept price differentiations from their wholesalers shall provide those wholesalers with a written statement declaring which privilege generates the majority of their business revenue.

3. Wholesalers will be responsible for maintaining those statements as well as indicating on the sales invoices which privilege the retailer has designated as their major revenue generator.

4. Upon request, wholesalers and retailers shall provide the authority with written substantiation for any price differentiation.

C. No person holding a license authorizing the sale of alcoholic beverages at retail shall knowingly induce or receive a discrimination in price prohibited by this section.

Statutory Authority

§ 4.1-111 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 6, eff. December 18, 2013; amended, Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 8, eff. February 3, 2017; Volume 41, Issue 11, eff. February 12, 2025.

3VAC5-30-100. Novelties and specialties.

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.

Statutory Authority

§§ 4.1-111 and 4.1-320 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 41, Issue 11, eff. February 12, 2025.

Forms (3VAC5-30)

Distributor's Wine Invoice, #703-35 (eff. 6/85).

Wholesaler's Report of Dishonored Checks, #805-16 (eff. 2/92).

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