Is alcohol legal in Virginia?

Q: Is alcohol legal in Virginia?

Alcohol in Virginia is legal only under specific conditions. Virginia is a control state: distilled spirits are sold only at Virginia ABC stores, while beer and wine are sold in grocery and convenience stores and by licensed retailers.

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VIRGINIA · ALCOHOL

Alcohol

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Conditional: Virginia is a control state: distilled spirits are sold only at Virginia ABC stores, while beer and wine are sold in grocery and convenience stores and by licensed retailers.

Conditional

Summary

Virginia is a control state: distilled spirits are sold only at Virginia ABC stores, while beer and wine are sold in grocery and convenience stores and by licensed retailers.

Source: law.lis.virginia.gov → · Updated August 2, 2026

Virginia Alcohol topics

DUI / DWI Limits in Virginia →Info
In Virginia the per se limit for adults is 0.08% blood alcohol, and drivers under 21 are held to a zero-tolerance limit of 0.02%.
Open Container Law in Virginia →Restricted
Virginia prohibits drinking while driving, and it enforces that through a presumption: an open, partially consumed container in the passenger area, together with signs of consumption, creates a rebuttable presumption that the driver drank (a Class 4 misdemeanor).
Sunday Alcohol Sales in Virginia →Permitted
Virginia permits Sunday sales, and grocery and convenience stores generally sell beer and wine from 6 a.m. to midnight daily.
Last Call Hours in Virginia →Info
In Virginia, last call for on-premises alcohol service at bars and restaurants is 2 a.m. in localities where mixed-beverage sales are authorized; in all other localities on-premises service stops at midnight.
Beer & Wine in Grocery Stores in Virginia →Permitted
In Virginia, groceries and convenience stores sell beer and wine in closed containers, but spirits are sold only in Virginia ABC stores.
Where to Buy Alcohol in Virginia →Conditional
Virginia is a control state: distilled spirits are sold only at Virginia ABC stores, while beer and wine are sold in grocery and convenience stores and by licensed retailers.

Other Virginia laws

Alcohol in nearby states

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