Title of Regulation: 3VAC5-50. Retail Operations (amending 3VAC5-50-110).

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

Effective Date: December 18, 2013.

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.

Summary:

The amendment establishes a $1,000 minimum monthly food sale requirement of oysters and other seafood for gourmet oyster house licensees. This action is required by Chapter 626 of the 2011 Acts of Assembly.

Summary of Public Comments and Agency's Response: No public comments were received by the promulgating agency.

3VAC5-50-110. Definitions and qualifications for retail on-premises and on-premises and off-premises licenses generally; mixed beverage licensee requirements; exceptions; temporary licenses.

A. The following definitions shall apply to retail licensees and mixed beverage licensees where appropriate:

1. "Designated area." A room or area in which a licensee may exercise the privilege of his license, the location, equipment and facilities of which room or area have been approved by the board. The facilities shall be such that patrons may purchase food prepared on the premises for consumption on the premises at substantially all times that alcoholic beverages are offered for sale therein. The seating capacity of such room or area shall be included in determining eligibility qualifications for a mixed beverage restaurant.

2. "Dining car, buffet car or club car." A vehicle operated by a common carrier of passengers by rail, in interstate or intrastate commerce and in which food and refreshments are sold.

3. "Meals." In determining what constitutes a "meal" as the term is used in this section, the board may consider the following factors, among others:

a. The assortment of foods commonly offered for sale;

b. The method and extent of preparation and service required; and

c. The extent to which the food served would be considered a principal meal of the day as distinguished from a snack.

4. "Habitual sales." In determining what constitutes "habitual sales" of specific foods, the board may consider the following factors, among others:

a. The business hours observed as compared with similar type businesses;

b. The extent to which such food or other merchandise is regularly sold; and

c. Present and anticipated sales volume in such food or other merchandise.

5. "Sale" and "sell." The definition of "sale" and "sell" as defined in 3VAC5-70-90 shall apply to this section.

B. Wine and beer. Retail on-premises or on-premises and off-premises licenses may be granted to persons operating the following types of establishments provided that meals or other foods are regularly sold at substantially all hours that wine and beer are offered for sale and the total monthly food sales for consumption in dining areas and other designated areas on the premises are not less than those shown:

1. "Boat" (on premises only). A common carrier of passengers for which a certificate as a sight-seeing carrier by boat, or a special or charter party by boat has been issued by the State Corporation Commission, habitually serving food on the boat:

Monthly sales .........................................................$2,000

2. "Restaurant." A bona fide dining establishment habitually selling meals with entrees and other foods prepared on the premises:

Monthly sales .........................................................$2,000

3. "Hotel." Any duly licensed establishment, provided with special space and accommodation, where, in consideration of payment, meals with entrees and other food prepared on the premises and lodging are habitually furnished to persons and which has four or more bedrooms:

Monthly sales .........................................................$2,000

In regard to both restaurants and hotels, at least $1,000 of the required monthly sales must be in the form of meals with entrees.

4. "Gourmet Oyster House." Any duly licensed establishment, located on the premises of a commercial marina and permitted by the Department of Health to serve oysters and other fresh seafood for consumption on the premises, where the licensee also offers to the public events for the purpose of featuring oysters and other seafood products:

Monthly sales of oysters and other seafood…...$1,000

C. Beer. Retail on-premises or on-premises and off-premises licenses may be granted to persons operating the following types of establishments provided that food is regularly sold at substantially all hours that beer is offered for sale and the total monthly food sales for consumption in dining areas and other designated areas on the premises are not less than those shown:

1. "Boat" (on-premises only). See subdivision B 1:

Monthly sales .........................................................$2,000

2. "Restaurant." An establishment habitually selling food prepared on the premises:

Monthly sales .........................................................$2,000

3. "Hotel." See subdivision B 3;:

Monthly sales .........................................................$2,000

D. Mixed beverage licenses. The following shall apply to mixed beverage licenses where appropriate:

1. "Bona fide, full-service restaurant." An established place of business where meals with substantial entrees are habitually sold to persons and which has adequate facilities and sufficient employees for cooking, preparing and serving such meals for consumption at tables in dining areas on the premises. In determining the qualifications of such restaurant, the board may consider the assortment of entrees and other food sold. Such restaurants shall include establishments specializing in full course meals with a single substantial entree.

2. "Monetary sales requirements." The monthly sale of food prepared on the premises shall not be less than $4,000 of which at least $2,000 shall be in the form of meals with entrees.

3. "Dining area." A public room or area in which meals are regularly sold at substantially all hours that mixed beverages are offered for sale therein.

4. "Outside terraces or patios." An outside terrace or patio, the location, equipment and facilities of which have been approved by the board may be approved as a "dining area" or as a "designated area" in the discretion of the board. A location adjacent to a public sidewalk, street or alley will not be approved where direct access is permitted from such sidewalk, street or alley by more than one well-defined entrance therefrom. The seating capacity of an outside terrace or patio if used regularly by those operations which are seasonal in nature, shall be included in determining eligibility qualifications. For purposes of this subdivision, the term "seasonal operations" is defined as an establishment that voluntarily surrenders its license to the board for part of its license year.

5. "Tables and counters."

a. A "table" shall include any article of furniture, fixture or counter generally having a flat top surface supported by legs, a pedestal or a solid base, designed to accommodate the serving of food and refreshments (though such food and refreshments need not necessarily be served together), and to provide seating for customers. If any table is located between two-backed benches, commonly known as a booth, at least one end of the structure shall be open permitting an unobstructed view therein. In no event, shall the number of individual seats at free standing tables and in booths be less than the number of individual seats at counters.

b. This subdivision shall not be applicable to a room otherwise lawfully in use for private meetings and private parties limited in attendance to members and guests of a particular group.

E. The board may grant a license to an establishment not meeting the qualifying figures in this section, provided the establishment otherwise is qualified under the applicable provisions of the Code of Virginia and this section, if it affirmatively appears that there is a substantial public demand for such an establishment and that the public convenience will be promoted by the issuance of the license.

F. Notwithstanding the above, the board may issue a temporary license for any of the above retail operations. Such licenses may be issued only after application has been filed in accordance with § 4.1-230 of the Code of Virginia, and in cases where the sole objection to issuance of a license is that the establishment will not be qualified in terms of the sale of food or edible items. If a temporary license is issued, the board shall conduct an audit of the business after a reasonable period of operation not to exceed 180 days. Should the business be qualified, the license applied for may be issued. If the business is not qualified, the application will become the subject of a hearing if the applicant so desires. No further temporary license shall be issued to the applicant or to any other person with respect to the establishment for a period of one year from expiration and, once the application becomes the subject of a hearing, no temporary license may be issued.