Virginia Law

A. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, persons granted a wine and beer license pursuant to § 4.1-206.3 may display within their licensed premises point-of-sale advertising materials that incorporate the use of any professional athlete or athletic team, provided that such advertising materials (i) otherwise comply with the applicable regulations of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and (ii) do not depict any athlete consuming or about to consume alcohol prior to or while engaged in an athletic activity, do not depict an athlete consuming alcohol while the athlete is operating or about to operate a motor vehicle or other machinery, and do not imply that the alcoholic beverage so advertised enhances athletic prowess.

B. Persons granted a license to sell wine and beer for off-premises consumption that display such wine and beer outside a clearly discernible location reserved for alcoholic beverages shall (i) not place wine or beer in an area immediately adjacent to nonalcoholic beverages containing the same or similar brand name, logo, or packaging as an alcoholic beverage and (ii) equip any such display with signage that indicates the product is an alcoholic beverage, is clearly visible to consumers, and is of sufficient size to notify the consumer that the product contains alcohol. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the placement of nonalcoholic wine or beer in or near a display of alcoholic beverages that contain the same or similar brand name, logo, or packaging as the nonalcoholic wine or beer.

C. Persons granted retail on-and-off-premises wine and beer licenses pursuant to the following provisions may conduct wine or beer tastings sponsored by the licensee for its customers for on-premises consumption:

1. Subdivision A 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 13 of § 4.1-206.3;

2. Subdivision B 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 of § 4.1-206.3;

3. Subdivision C 1 or 2 of § 4.1-206.3;

4. Subdivision D 1 a, b, or d or 2 a of § 4.1-206.3; or

5. Subdivision F 4 or 5 of § 4.1-206.3.

Such licensees may sell or give samples of wine and beer in designated areas at events held by the licensee for the purpose of featuring and educating the consuming public about the alcoholic beverages being tasted. Additionally, with the consent of the licensee, farm wineries, wineries, and breweries may participate in tastings held by licensees authorized to conduct tastings, including the pouring of samples to any person to whom alcoholic beverages may be lawfully sold. No single sample shall exceed four ounces of beer or two ounces of wine, and no more than 12 ounces of beer or five ounces of wine shall be given or sold to any person per day.

Code 1950, § 4-25; 1952, c. 535; 1956, c. 520; 1962, c. 532; 1964, c. 210; 1970, cc. 627, 723; 1972, c. 679; 1973, c. 343; 1974, c. 267; 1975, c. 408; 1976, cc. 134, 447, 496, 703; 1977, c. 439; 1978, c. 190; 1979, c. 258; 1980, cc. 526, 528; 1981, cc. 410, 412; 1982, c. 66; 1984, c. 200; 1987, c. 365; 1988, c. 893; 1989, c. 42; 1990, c. 707; 1991, c. 628; 1992, cc. 215, 350; 1993, cc. 190, 828, 866; 1994, c. 585; 1995, cc. 544, 570; 1996, cc. 443, 604; 1997, c. 489; 2001, c. 361; 2002, c. 204; 2003, cc. 329, 589, 1029, 1030; 2004, c. 487; 2005, cc. 652, 784; 2006, cc. 94, 153, 256, 826, 845; 2007, c. 813; 2008, cc. 179, 186, 192, 875; 2010, cc. 317, 561; 2011, c. 626; 2014, cc. 125, 612; 2015, c. 412; 2016, c. 654; 2017, cc. 76, 151, 152, 153, 154, 745; 2020, cc. 1113, 1114, 1179; 2023, cc. 213, 214; 2024, cc. 111, 255, 619, 622, 627.