VA Distilleries Can Now Ship Liquor To Customers

VIRGINIA — For the remainder of the coronavirus outbreak, Virginia distilleries have been given permission to ship liquor and spirits directly to their customer's homes.

The state's Alcohol Control Board says it recognizes that the coronavirus has made it tough for distilleries, closing tasting rooms and cutting off a large portion of their sales, so regulations have been relaxed so businesses can continue to survive even as the country shelters in place.

However the change does come with a few limits, including:

• Customers are limited to six bottles of spirits or two cases of low alcohol coolers per month.
• Spirit bottles have to be 1.75 liters or smaller
• Distillers must still make sure buyers are 21 or older
• Buyers must sign for delivery
• Direct shipments must be made by approved carriers like Federal Express or UPS

Earlier, the ABC had allowed distilleries to deliver alcohol to customers parked outside their stores or over delivery apps like Uber Eats and Grubhub.

A list of all 45 distilleries in the state can be found on the ABC's site here.

The Alcohol Control Board says the change will remain in place for the remainder of the outbreak, and will only end if the state decides that ABC stores are no longer essential businesses. Liquor stores were explicitly stated to be essential businesses in Governor Northam's executive orders 53 and 55 commanding the state to stay at home.

The Alcohol Control Board is also recognizing almost two dozen distilleries who have converted their facilities to produce hand sanitizers for the coronavirus outbreak. While some are only making sanitizer for hospitals and first responders, many are offering sanitizer delivery or pickup sales. A full list of distilleries producing sanitizer in Virginia can be found here.