The Daily Press - Jessica Nolte

Virginia’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority announced Sunday morning that it was removing seven Russian-sourced vodka brands from its shelves.


The state-run liquor store system attributed the decision to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s call on Saturday for the state to take “decisive action” in support of Ukraine.

Sen. Louise Lucas also tweeted Saturday morning, calling on Youngkin to order the removal of all Russian products from the ABC stores.

The vodka brands to be removed include Beluga, Hammer & Sickle, Imperia, Mamont, Organika, Russian Standard and ZYR.

The stores will not be removing products such as Stolichnaya and Smirnoff, which are Russian-themed but not produced in Russia. Smirnoff is owned by Diageo, which is based in London, and is manufactured in Illinois.

Virginia ABC said in a Facebook post it would be reviewing its other products to determine whether they have origins in Russia.

Leaders in Ohio, Utah and New Hampshire have made similar calls for liquor stores to remove the products, according to a report from CNN.

The report said the move is largely symbolic since less than 1% of vodka consumed in the United States is produced in Russia.

Youngkin has also ordered the state’s Department of General Services to review state procurement of goods and services involving Russian companies.

​The governor also called for Norfolk and Roanoke to end their sister city partnerships with Russian cities.
Jessica Nolte, 757-912-1675, jnolte@dailypress.com

Beginning Tuesday, March 1, all 396 Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) stores will return to normal operating hours. All stores will open by 10 a.m. every day, apart from some stores which regularly open later on Sundays. Store closing times, which were not part of the month-long adjustment, will remain the same. Closing times vary by store.

“With COVID-19 case numbers once again falling in Virginia, we are now able to return to our normal operating hours,” said Travis Hill, chief executive officer of Virginia ABC. “We truly appreciate our retail team’s dedication and flexibility throughout this pandemic, and we look forward to serving our customers with expanded hours soon.”

All ABC stores have been observing reduced hours since Jan. 24, opening daily at noon in response to increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases making staffing difficult.

As an alternative to in-store shopping, customers can place orders online at www.abc.virginia.gov for curbside pickup or home delivery in nearly all areas of the commonwealth.
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ABC continues to monitor information regarding COVID-19. Future decisions related to ABC store operations will be made based on the best information available to ABC and implemented on a case-by-case basis.



​News Release Contact:- Virginia ABC Communications - (804) 213-4413 
Email: pubrel@abc.virginia.gov

Capitol Connection
by: Dean Mirshahi

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Virginians will be allowed to get cocktails to-go and alcoholic drinks delivered to them until 2024 after the General Assembly passed a bill that one lawmaker called a “lifeline” to small businesses. 

The bill, introduced by Del. David Bulova (D-Fairfax), creates a third-party license that allows the holder to deliver alcoholic beverages bought from businesses with licenses from the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority. The legislation received bipartisan support in the legislature and will now go to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s desk. 

Last year, Del. Bulova’s House Bill 1879 allowed takeout and delivery of beverages until July 2022. The new legislation from Bulova during this session extends the sunset on the legislation until July 2024. 

Cocktails to-go extended in Virginia until July 2022Bulova’s bill makes way for the third-party delivery license and has provisions establishing container and training requirements. 

State Sen. Barbara Favola (D-Fairfax) said before Tuesday’s 37-3 vote that the bill came after the Virginia ABC studied the issue and shared a report with lawmakers, a directive that was included in the 2021 legislation.

The new measure from Bulova also directs the Virginia ABC “to collect data regarding the compliance of third-party delivery licensees with the provisions of the bill.” The Virginia ABC will have to report the data to lawmakers by Nov. 1, 2023. 

New law going into effect keeps to-go alcohol available in VirginiaState Sen. John Bell (D-Loudoun) introduced an identical bill in the Virginia Senate, which passed on a bipartisan vote. Sen. Bell said Tuesday that he worked with Del. Bulova on the legislation and asked senators to pass the measure because it’s a “lifeline to many small businesses.” 

Former Gov. Ralph Northam granted restaurants the authority to sell cocktails to-go during the pandemic after business owners expressed concerns over revenue loss. 
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“Not only does this measure provide increased convenience for consumers, but it also gives bars and restaurants a stable source of revenue as they work to recover from the pandemic,” David Wojnar, senior vice president and head of state public policy for the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, said in a statement Tuesday.

Starting Monday, all Virginia ABC stores will start opening at noon due to COVID-19 and staffing issues. The change will affect all 395 ABC stores in Virginia.


The change in hours is due to COVID-19 affecting retail staff either through exposures or the need to quarantine.


“Like other retailers affected by pandemic-related staffing shortages, we are modifying our store hours to reduce the need to close stores because of employee quarantines,” CEO Travis Hill said in a statement. “Opening at noon meets the needs of the majority of our customers, most of whom prefer to shop in the afternoon.”
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Store closing times will remain the same.


All store employees are required to wear face masks. Customers are encouraged to also wear face masks when shopping in an ABC store.


Customers can also place orders online at www.abc.virginia.gov for curbside pickup or home delivery.


As for how long the change will last, ABC said, “Future decisions related to ABC store operations will be made with guidance from these official sources and implemented on a case-by-case basis.”

WRIC, Kerry O'Brien - January 10, 2022

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VA (WRIC) — It could be a dry January for some people, whether they were planning on it or not as Virginia ABC stores around the state are still struggling to fill shelves. 

At the ABC store at Stonebridge Plaza in Chesterfield, customers found row after row of empty shelves. Tawni Schilling, a shopper at the store, said her favorite spirits have been out of stock since November. 

“Can’t find Hennessy, can’t find Courvoisier anywhere, since like Thanksgiving,” she said.

Supply chain issues, like imports being hung up at the port, combined with delivery delays and the recent holidays is making it difficult for Virginia ABC employees to restock the shelves. 

Travis Hill, Virginia ABC’s CEO, said inventory is normally lower after holidays. However, he said stores are experiencing an all-time shortage recently, with 255 items out of stock.
 
“What COVID did with the supply chain disruptions, it just doubled on it,” Hill said. 

ABC carries more than 5,000 products and employees are trying to find customers an alternative beverage when they can. Hill is hopeful relief is on the way. 

“We had some truck go out on Saturday in the Richmond area, we got more out today,” Hill said. 

Still, he said from what he hears, it’s going to be a while before the booze is back lining the shelves. 

“It may be the middle of ’22 or beyond before we really start to see predictable shipments,” Hill said.
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Booze is big business for the Commonwealth, Virginia ABC had record sales in fiscal year 2021, generating more than $616 million in revenue . Sales went up by 14% from 2020. Hill credits and thanks to Virginia ABC employees for the success. He says they’ve worked through multiple challenges since the pandemic started in 2020. 

However, Hill said he thinks growth will slow this year because of these supply issues but that Virginia ABC will still generate revenue for the state.