Below is the report from Mark Tate of Jackson-West Consulting from our October 24, RAMW Board meeting at Columbia Firehouse in Alexandria, VA which contains important legislative information impacting Virginia businesses:

Virginia Delegate David Albo’s address to RAMW Board:

ABC regulations including ABC advertising laws and Happy hour promotions

Delegate Albo addressed a number of changes in the ABC regulations and state code and the ongoing regulation review being done by the Virginia ABC board. Reviewing the restrictions on distilled spirits outdoor advertising and the changes that occurred last session, Albo noted that Lamar Advertising forced a change in the restrictions on advertising distilled spirits with billboards by filing a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the law. The General Assembly rapidly changed legislation to allow limited billboard advertising for distilled spirits but left the remainder of the restrictions on distilled spirits in place. Delegate Albo stated in the meeting and privately afterwards that it is probably the right time to try and adjust “Happy Hour Advertising Laws” in the next General Assembly session.

Delegate Albo suggested if RAMW has changes it would like to see we should send suggestions to his office ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ). A list of the regulations at issue appear here : (scroll down to BOARD: Alcoholic Beverage Control Board) and include such issues under consideration as “Infusion of Distilled Spirits by Mixed Beverage Licensees”, “Penalty Waiver for First-Time Violations”, and “Alcoholic beverage advertising on outdoor signs and billboards”.

Please, if you email comments to Delegate Albo, or any Northern Virginia Delegate, cc or forward copies of your emails to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it so that RAMW may keep a record of the comments and issues that are important to membership.

The new Corkage law that RAMW was instrumental in getting passed during the last legislative season was the most significant new law regarding ABC legislation to be addressed in some time. Going in, RAMW faced stiff, and established, opposition. Common sense and the collective voice of RAMW members were heard, however, and corkage passed. Taking the corkage campaign as our template, please help us identify the issues that matter to you and get your position to lawmakers.

ABC privatization

Delegate Albo gave his assessment of the prospects of ABC privatization for the next General Assembly session.  Albo gave an honest criticism of the current proposals that the Governor has tried to advance and stated that, currently, any efforts are dead on arrival unless certain criteria are met. These criteria included: a limit on the number of new ABC stores, new revenue to cover the costs of implementing the privatization and to help pay for new road construction, access to underage users, differing advertising rules, availability of distilled spirits and a wide variety of brands for restaurants and consumers. Then, if the details of going forward with privatization are worked out, the General Assembly would need to dismantle an 80-year-old system of ABC laws. Board members had a healthy exchange on what they saw as benefits from a privatized ABC system in Virginia. Delegate Albo stated that it is a complicated issue but that the next proposal needs to not be just revenue neutral but also provide more monies for transportation and other services. Absent that, Albo said, the effort will have little chance of success.

RAMW is engaged with the new ABC privatization coalition led by Total Beverage and working to ensure that this new proposal protects the restaurant industry.

Pilot E-Verify Program

Delegate Albo reviewed the current pilot program in Virginia regarding E-Verify. In the pilot program all state agencies are required to use E-verify for new employee hires. The pilot program is intended to last two years and if successful there will be an effort to apply to all employers in Virginia. The Board members had an opportunity to engage Delegate Albo on E-Verify generally and the pilot project specifically. Board members brought up a variety of valid issues related to the pilot, including the fact that State agencies employ few minimum wage workers and the fact that not many illegal employees would seek jobs from a state agency seems to make the pilot program an inappropriate measurement of E-Verify effectiveness for all employers in Virginia.

RAMW will seek to inform as many legislators as possible about these issues over the two year span of the pilot program.

Engaging your Delegates and Senators

Delegate Albo addressed the importance of each member engaging Delegates and Senators concerning issues in the General Assembly. Albo stated that as few as eight letters on a single issue will let a Delegate know that their constituents have concerns.

Delegate Albo expressed his willingness to work closely with RAMW on issues and encouraged RAMW to continue to engage his office and other Delegates and Senators.