Virginia ABC

I-95-VA-78-NB
Boulevard (SR 161)
City of Richmond VA

I-95-VA-78-SB
Boulevard (SR 161)
City of Richmond VA

Brand: Virginia ABC

The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (Virginia ABC, or previously known as the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control) is one of the eleven public safety agencies under the Secretariat of Public Safety and Homeland Security for the Commonwealth. The agency administers the state's ABC laws (created by the General Assembly) with an emphasis on public service and a focus on protecting citizens by ensuring a safe, orderly and regulated system for convenient distribution and responsible consumption of alcohol.

The agency is a leading revenue producer for Virginia. The profits that Virginia ABC contributes are collected from sales of distilled spirits at ABC stores, taxes collected on beer and wine sales, violation penalties and license fees.

Since its establishment in 1934, Virginia ABC has contributed more than $9 billion to the Commonwealth's general fund, which supports major education, health and transportation initiatives.

Virginia ABC employs more than 4,000 people statewide.

As one of 17 control states and localities across the United States—where the state government manages the sale of distilled spirits at the wholesale level—ABC stores are the only retail outlets in Virginia where customers may purchase distilled spirits.

Wikipedia entry