View source for Alcohol laws of West Virginia

{{short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
'''Alcohol laws of West Virginia''' are more complex on paper than in actual practice, owing to a provision of the state [[constitution]] and "work-arounds" of its terms.
== Constitution ==
The state constitution, Article VI, Section 46, passed to repeal [[prohibition]] in 1934, prohibits the consumption of "intoxicating liquors" in a "saloon or other public place".{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}
== Retail sale of beer and wine ==
Beer has been available in general, privately owned, retail stores since 1934.  Wine was transferred from the state-owned "[[Alcoholic beverage control state|ABC Stores]]" system to private sale in 1981 via H.B. 1111.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wvlegislature.gov/wvcode/code.cfm?chap=60&art=3&section=24a |title=West Virginia Code CHAPTER 60. STATE CONTROL OF ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS  |work=State of West Virginia  |date=March 26, 1981}}</ref>
== Retail sale of liquor ==
Prior to 1990, liquor was sold only in a state owned system of stores, known as ABC Stores.  In that year, the state withdrew from the retail liquor business and auctioned off permits to private businesses, who operate as "[[Agent (law)|agent]]s of the state".  In smaller counties, a local [[monopoly]] was provided for, with only one agent per area, but in larger counties, multiple competing agencies were granted.  Agencies are rebid every 10 years.  In the 2010 rebid, the following agencies were granted:{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}
[[Rite-Aid]] drug store chain, 42 agencies
[[CVS Caremark|CVS]] drug store chain, 9 agencies
[[7-Eleven]] convenience store chain, 20 agencies
[[Sam's Club]] warehouse store chain, 2 agencies
[[Kroger]] grocery store chain, 1 agency
Par Mar Stores 1 agency
privately owned convenience stores, 31 agencies
privately owned alcohol and tobacco shops, 14 agencies
privately owned grocery stores, 7 agencies
privately owned souvenir shop, 1 agency
privately owned stand-alone liquor only stores, 40 agencies
== ''By the drink'' sale of beer ==
In 1937, the state "worked around" the constitutional prohibition on public consumption by redefining standard [[beer]] as "non-intoxicating beer" and thus permitting the sale of this product in bars and restaurants.  All beer vendors to this day are legally selling "non-intoxicating beer".{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}
== ''By the drink'' sale of wine and liquor ==
Following [[World War II]], there was a desire to provide for the sale of wine and liquor by the drink, particularly in the northern parts of the state.  In 1948 the state provided for the licensing of private clubs, such as veteran's organizations, fraternal organizations, and [[golf]] and country clubs, on the theory that these were not "public places".{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}
Throughout the 1950s, however state voters regularly rejected constitutional amendments which provided for public consumption.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}} The Citizen's Committee for the Defeat of the Liquor Amendment, led by Methodist minister [[Lyscum Elbert Crowson|L.E. Crowson]], campaigned across the state and participated in public debates that were instrumental in keeping the amendment from passing.<ref>{{Cite news|date=February 23, 1962|title=Drys Raise Battle Cry|work=Beckley Post Herald}}</ref> Votes were generally along regional lines, with northern areas and larger cities supporting repeal, and southern and rural areas supporting the continued ban. In 1961, the state [[legislature]] found a "work-around" that short-circuited another vote.  The new law provided for a new type of "private club".  In actual practice, these "private clubs" are simply public places.  Patrons become "members" for one [[dollar]] with the purchase of their first drink, which comes with a one dollar "discount", with the law requiring that the club may not refuse "membership" to any person over age 21.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}  In previous years, patrons were actually issued membership cards, but this practice has fallen into disuse and 99% of patrons are unaware that they are members of any such "club". Technically, public bars and saloons remain illegal in the state to this day.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}  The 1961 law was a part of a political deal whereby southern legislators agreed to these changes, and northern legislators withdrew their blocking of the renaming of Marshall College, which had been accredited as a "university" since 1937 and which is located in southern West Virginia, to [[Marshall University]].  This system remains in effect to this day.  Such "clubs" are required to post a registry number which begins with the letter "ABCC" followed by a serial number, over their doors.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}
The [[Greenbrier Resort]] in [[White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia|White Sulphur Springs]], simply adds a $10 "alcohol membership fee" to the bill of all first time patrons.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}
== Raising the ABV% Cap ==
Prior to July 2009, non-intoxicating beer was defined as all malt based beverages that contained at least 0.5% ABV and not more than 6% ABV. Therefore, all beer sold in WV could not contain more than 6% ABV. This effectively eliminated nearly 2/3 of all beer being produced throughout the world from being purchased in WV. Beginning in 2005 there were many attempts to raise that limit so that the WV market would be opened to the many world class beers that were, at the time, illegal to purchase in WV.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}} The WV Beer Wholesalers Association were initially opposed to the change in the law stating that it would cause higher rates of underage drinking and DUI's. The facts however showed that this was not the case and in 2009, the WV Beer Wholesalers Association changed their stance on the subject and, along with the beer consumer advocacy group West Virginia Craft Beer Society, proceeded to lobby the Legislature to pass HB 2719,<ref>{{cite web |author1=James Hanly Morgan |author2=Robert John Doyle  |url=http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb2719%20intr.htm&yr=2009&sesstype=rs&billtype=B&houseorig=H&i=2719 |title=H. B. 2719  |publisher=West Virginia Legislature  |date=February 20, 2009}}</ref> aka "The Craft Beer Bill" and change the definition of "non-intoxicating beer" to all malt based beverages between 0.5% and 12% ABV. The WV Legislature passed the bill in April 2009 and Governor [[Joe Manchin]] III signed the bill into law in July 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://votesmart.org/bill/9010/24383/increase-in-maximum-alcohol-level-for-beer#.XZv9YOdKh0s |title=HB 2719 - Increase in Maximum Alcohol Level for Beer - West Virginia Key Vote  |work=Vote Smart |date=2009 |accessdate=October 7, 2019}}</ref>
==Days and hours ==
Retail sale of beer and wine is prohibited daily between 2:00&nbsp;a.m. and 6:00&nbsp;a.m..
Retail sale of liquor is prohibited on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day, and between 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m each day.
Private clubs must close by 3:30&nbsp;a.m. and remain closed until 6:00&nbsp;a.m each day. Taverns/bars must close by 2:30&nbsp;a.m. and remain closed until 6:00&nbsp;a.m each day.<ref>[https://abca.wv.gov/enforcement/Documents/Hours%20of%20Operation.pdf Hours of Operation] abca.wv.gov Retrieved May 26, 2023</ref>
In 2016, the state permitted a [[local option]] election whereby counties may change the Sunday 1:00&nbsp;p.m. time to 10:00&nbsp;a.m.  Several counties immediately scheduled such elections for November 2016.
== Drinking age and dry counties ==
The drinking age was 18 for beer/wine and 21 for liquor until 1972, when it was lowered to 18 for all beverages (along with the age of majority).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/06/10/archives/legal-age-cut-to-18.html |title=Legal Age Cut to 18|newspaper=New York Times|date=June 10, 1972}}</ref> It was then raised to 19 in 1983 (21 for non-residents) and 21 for all in 1986.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}  Persons under 18 are also not allowed to sell alcohol.  [[Calhoun County, West Virginia|Calhoun County]]  was dry for wine and hard liquor sales until August 11, 2021, in which it became wet.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wchstv.com/news/local/dry-county-no-more-calhoun-voters-narrowly-approve-liquor-sales|title=Dry county no more: Calhoun voters narrowly approve liquor sales|date=11 August 2021}}</ref> There are no more dry counties in West Virginia, however there is still one dry municipality: Brandonville. All counties are wet for off-premises consumption as of 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=4524&year=2020&sessiontype=rs&btype=bill|title=Bill Status - Complete Bill History|website=www.wvlegislature.gov|accessdate=26 May 2023}}</ref>
== Cross-border issues ==
Because its laws are less restrictive than its neighbor states, West Virginia benefits from sales to border residents, especially from the southern part of its border with [[Kentucky]] which has several "dry" counties.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}} Huntington also benefits from neighboring Lawrence County, Ohio, having several dry townships.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}} Also Mineral County benefits people from nearby [[Allegany County, Maryland|Allegany County Maryland]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Alcohol laws in the United States}}
[[Category:Alcohol law in the United States by state|West Virginia]]
[[Category:West Virginia law]]
[[Category:Food and drink in West Virginia| ]]