Virginia § 4.1-311 - Limitations on transporting lawfully purchased alcoholic beverages; penalty

§ 4.1-311. Limitations on transporting lawfully purchased alcoholic beverages; penalty

A. Except as otherwise permitted under subsection F of § 4.1-206.3 or § 4.1-209.1 or 4.1-212.1, the transportation of alcoholic beverages is prohibited except in accordance with Board regulations and the following provisions:

1. Wine may be (i) if lawfully purchased in the Commonwealth for personal use and not for resale, transported within the Commonwealth in the personal possession of the purchaser; (ii) if lawfully purchased outside the Commonwealth for personal use and not for resale, transported into or within the Commonwealth in the personal possession of the purchaser in an amount not to exceed three gallons; or (iii) transported into the Commonwealth if consigned to a wholesale wine licensee.

2. Beer may be (i) if lawfully purchased in the Commonwealth for personal use and not for resale, transported within the Commonwealth in the personal possession of the purchaser; (ii) if lawfully purchased outside the Commonwealth for personal use and not for resale, transported into or within the Commonwealth in the personal possession of the purchaser in an amount not to exceed three gallons; or (iii) transported into the Commonwealth if consigned to a wholesale beer licensee.

3. Alcoholic beverages other than wine and beer may be (i) if lawfully purchased for personal use and not for resale, transported into or within the Commonwealth in the personal possession of the purchaser in an amount not to exceed three gallons or (ii) transported into the Commonwealth if such alcoholic beverages (a) are consigned to the Board, (b) are being transported to a distillery or winery licensee, or (c) are ordered by the Board and are being transported directly to persons for industrial purposes, persons for the manufacture of articles allowed to be manufactured under § 4.1-200, or hospitals pursuant to a permit issued by the Board for which the Board may charge a reasonable fee.

B. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to prohibit (i) any person from bringing, through U.S. Customs in his accompanying baggage, into the Commonwealth for personal use and not for resale alcoholic beverages in an amount not to exceed three gallons; (ii) the transportation into the Commonwealth of a reasonable quantity of alcoholic beverages for personal use and not for resale in the personal or household effects of a person relocating his place of residence to the Commonwealth; or (iii) the transportation of alcoholic beverages on passenger boats, dining cars, buffet cars, or club cars licensed under this subtitle or by common carriers engaged in interstate or foreign commerce.

C. Any person transporting alcoholic beverages in violation of this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Code 1950, § 4-72; 1974, c. 460, § 4-72.1; 1975, c. 480; 1978, c. 436; 1993, c. 866; 2022, c. 201.