Virginia Liquor Store Sales Hit Record During COVID-19 Pandemic

VIRGINIA — The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority reported revenue of $1.4 billion during the 2021 fiscal year that ended June 30, an increase of $163 million from the previous year, the Virginia ABC announced Tuesday.

The 2021 fiscal year revenues, a record for the Virginia ABC, included the sale of distilled spirits, wines and mixers, and the collection of license fees and other miscellaneous revenues.

An increase in online orders was a major contributor at the start of fiscal year 2021 as customers used in-store pick-up, curbside pick-up and next day shipping due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the rate of online orders declined over the course of the year as customers returned to in-person shopping, online transactions continued to be well ahead of pre-pandemic levels as ABC expanded availability of shipping and introduced same day delivery.

“The resourcefulness and dedication of our ABC teammates, especially those in retail and distribution, enabled us to overcome tremendous challenges to achieve a record-breaking year,” Virginia ABC CEO Travis Hill said in a statement Tuesday.

Between March and September 2020, beer, wine and liquor store sales totaled $41.9 billion across the United States, 20 percent higher than during the same months in 2019 and 18 percent higher than between August 2019 and February 2020, according to new research from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health published in the journal Alcohol.

For fiscal year 2021, the Virginia ABC contributed a total of $616.4 million to the state for designated programs and services, an increase of $71.1 million over the previous year. This reflects $237.3 million in profits from retail sales, $294 million in taxes and $85.1 million collected in wine and beer taxes.

During the year, retail sales grew by 14.7 percent, with six new ABC stores generating nearly $4.9 million in sales. Sunday sales also continued to play a role in the rising revenue, increasing by 11.8 percent in fiscal year 2021 to $104.9 million, Virginia ABC said.

The top five brands purchased in Virginia ABC stores in fiscal year 2021 were:

• Tito's Handmade – domestic vodka
• Hennessy VS – cognac/Armagnac
• Jack Daniel’s 7 Black – Tennessee whiskey
• Patron Silver – tequila
• Jim Beam – straight bourbon

Of the five top sellers, Patron Silver tequila saw the biggest increase, from $20.9 million to $28.9 million, followed by Hennessy VS cognac from $46.9 million to $52.8 million.