Title of Regulation: 3VAC5-50. Retail Operations (adding 3VAC5-50-230).

Statutory Authority: §§ 4.1-103 and 4.1-111 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: January 13, 2009, through January 12, 2010.

Agency Contact: W. Curtis Coleburn III, Chief Operating Officer, Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 2901 Hermitage Road, Richmond, VA 23220, telephone (804) 213-4409, FAX (804) 213-4411, TTY (804) 213-4687, or email curtis.coleburn@abc.virginia.gov.

Preamble:

Chapter 172 of the 2008 Acts of Assembly amended the provisions of subdivision A 12 of § 4.1-210 of the Code of Virginia, adding "dessert wines as defined by Board regulation" to the types of alcoholic beverages that may be sold and sold and served by holders of limited mixed beverage restaurant licenses. The second enactment clause of this act provides that "the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board shall promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this act to be effective within 280 days of its enactment." The purpose of this action is to create a new section, defining "dessert wines" for the purposes of the act.

The new section to be promulgated provides a definition of "dessert wines," which holders of limited mixed beverage restaurant licenses will be authorized to sell and serve. The board is required to define the term by statute. The goal of the new section is to provide a broad definition, to enable licensees to sell and serve most wine products consumers desire to drink with dessert, while at the same time allowing easy compliance with and enforcement of the regulation.

Limited mixed beverage restaurants are not subject to the full food sale requirements of other mixed beverage restaurants. The General Assembly has determined that such restaurants should sell a limited number of liqueurs mixed with coffee or other drinks, as well as dessert wines. The proposed regulatory action is necessary to protect the health, safety, or welfare of citizens by insuring that the alcoholic beverage products offered for sale fall within the limits prescribed by the legislature. During the development of the permanent regulation, there could be additional types of wines identified as properly considered “dessert wines,” although none have been discovered in research.

3VAC5-50-230. Dessert wines.

For the purposes of § 4.1-210 A 12 of the Code of Virginia, "dessert wines" shall mean any wine having an alcohol content of more than 14% by volume, any wine whose label contains a statement that it contains more than 2.0% residual sugar, or any wine described on its label as a "dessert," "late harvest," or "ice" wine.