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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>68539</law_id><section_number>4.1-204</section_number><catch_line>Records of licensees; inspection of records and places of business</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>4.1-331</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="4.1">Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">Alcoholic Beverage Control Act</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Administration of Licenses</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Manufacturers, bottlers or wholesalers. &#x2014; Every <span class="dictionary">licensed</span> manufacturer, bottler or wholesaler shall keep complete, accurate and separate records in accordance with <span class="dictionary">Board</span> regulations of all <span class="dictionary">alcoholic beverages</span> purchased, manufactured, bottled, sold or shipped by him, and the applicable tax required by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Tax on wine and other alcoholic beverages; exceptions" href="/4.1-234/">4.1-234</a> or <a class="law" title="Excise tax on beer and wine coolers; payment of tax; exceptions" href="/4.1-236/">4.1-236</a>, if any. <a id="paragraph-248104" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-204/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Retailers. &#x2014; Every retail <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> shall keep complete, accurate, and separate records, in accordance with <span class="dictionary">Board</span> regulations, of all purchases of <span class="dictionary">alcoholic beverages</span>, the prices charged such <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> therefor, and the names and addresses of the persons from whom purchased. Every retail <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> shall also preserve all invoices showing his purchases for a period as specified by <span class="dictionary">Board</span> regulations. He shall also keep an accurate account of daily <span class="dictionary">sales</span>, showing quantities of <span class="dictionary">alcoholic beverages</span> sold and the total price charged by him therefor. Except as otherwise provided in subsection D, such account need not give the names or addresses of the purchasers thereof, except as may be required by <span class="dictionary">Board</span> regulation for the <span class="dictionary">sale</span> of <span class="dictionary">alcoholic beverages</span> in kegs. In the case of persons holding retail licenses that require <span class="dictionary">sales</span> of food to determine their qualifications for such licenses, the records shall also include purchases and <span class="dictionary">sales</span> of food and nonalcoholic beverages.
			Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection F, electronic records of retail <span class="dictionary">licensees</span> may be stored off site, provided that such records are readily retrievable and available for electronic inspection by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> or its <span class="dictionary">special agents</span> at the <span class="dictionary">licensed</span> premises. However, in the case that such electronic records are not readily available for electronic inspection on the <span class="dictionary">licensed</span> premises, the retail <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> may obtain <span class="dictionary">Board</span> approval, for good cause shown, to permit the retail <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> to provide the records to a <span class="dictionary">special agent</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> within three business days or less, as determined by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>, after a request is made to inspect the records. <a id="paragraph-248105" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-204/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Common carriers. &#x2014; Common carriers of passengers by train, boat, <span class="dictionary">bus</span>, or airplane shall keep records of purchases and <span class="dictionary">sales</span> of <span class="dictionary">alcoholic beverages</span> and food as required by <span class="dictionary">Board</span> regulation. <a id="paragraph-248106" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-204/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> <span class="dictionary">Wine</span> and <span class="dictionary">beer</span> shippers. &#x2014; Every <span class="dictionary">wine</span> and <span class="dictionary">beer</span> shipper <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> shall keep complete, accurate, and separate records in accordance with <span class="dictionary">Board</span> regulations of all shipments of <span class="dictionary">wine</span> or <span class="dictionary">beer</span> to persons in the Commonwealth. Such <span class="dictionary">licensees</span> shall also remit on a monthly basis an accurate account stating whether any <span class="dictionary">wine</span>, farm <span class="dictionary">wine</span>, or <span class="dictionary">beer</span> products were sold and shipped and, if so, stating the total quantities of <span class="dictionary">wine</span> and <span class="dictionary">beer</span> sold and the total price charged for such <span class="dictionary">wine</span> and <span class="dictionary">beer</span>. Such records shall include the names and addresses of the purchasers to whom the <span class="dictionary">wine</span> and <span class="dictionary">beer</span> is shipped. <a id="paragraph-248107" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-204/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Deliveries. &#x2014; Every <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> or permittee that is authorized to make deliveries pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Delivery of wine and beer; kegs; regulations of Board" href="/4.1-212.1/">4.1-212.1</a> shall keep complete, accurate, and separate records for a period of at least two years in accordance with <span class="dictionary">Board</span> regulations of all deliveries of <span class="dictionary">wine</span> and <span class="dictionary">beer</span> to persons in the Commonwealth. Such records shall include (i) the types of <span class="dictionary">wine</span> and <span class="dictionary">beer</span> sold, (ii) the total quantities of <span class="dictionary">wine</span> and <span class="dictionary">beer</span> sold, (iii) the total price charged for such <span class="dictionary">wine</span> and <span class="dictionary">beer</span>, (iv) the name and date of birth of the person to whom the <span class="dictionary">wine</span> and <span class="dictionary">beer</span> are delivered, and (v) the address to which the <span class="dictionary">wine</span> and <span class="dictionary">beer</span> is delivered. <span class="dictionary">Licensees</span> and permittees shall remit such records on a monthly basis for any month during which the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> or permittee makes a delivery for which the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> or permittee is required to collect and remit excise taxes due to the <span class="dictionary">Authority</span> pursuant to subsection E of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Delivery of wine and beer; kegs; regulations of Board" href="/4.1-212.1/">4.1-212.1</a>.
			Every <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> that is authorized to make deliveries pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Third-party deliveries; limitations; penalties" href="/4.1-212.2/">4.1-212.2</a> shall keep complete, accurate, and separate records for a period of at least two years in accordance with <span class="dictionary">Board</span> regulations of all deliveries of <span class="dictionary">alcoholic beverages</span> to persons in the Commonwealth. Such records shall include all information prescribed by <span class="dictionary">Board</span> regulations. <span class="dictionary">Licensees</span> shall remit such records within 24 hours of a records request by the <span class="dictionary">Authority</span>; however, the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> may obtain <span class="dictionary">Board</span> approval, for good cause shown, to permit the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> to provide records to a <span class="dictionary">special agent</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> within three business days or less, as determined by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>, after a request is made to inspect the records. <a id="paragraph-248108" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-204/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> Inspection. &#x2014; The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> and its <span class="dictionary">special agents</span> shall be allowed free access during <span class="dictionary">reasonable hours</span> to every place in the Commonwealth and to the premises of both (i) every <span class="dictionary">wine</span> and <span class="dictionary">beer</span> shipper <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> and (ii) every <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> or permittee authorized to make deliveries wherever located where <span class="dictionary">alcoholic beverages</span> are manufactured, bottled, stored, offered for <span class="dictionary">sale</span> or sold, for the purpose of examining and inspecting such place and all records, invoices and accounts therein. The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> may engage the services of alcoholic beverage control authorities in any state to assist with the inspection of the premises of a <span class="dictionary">wine</span> and <span class="dictionary">beer</span> shipper <span class="dictionary">licensee</span>, <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> or permittee authorized to make deliveries, or any applicant for such license or permit.
			For purposes of a <span class="dictionary">Board</span> inspection of the records of any retail <span class="dictionary">licensees</span>, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">reasonable hours</span>&#x201D; means the hours between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.; however, if the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> generally is not open to the public substantially during the same hours, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">reasonable hours</span>&#x201D; shall mean the business hours when the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> is open to the public. At any other time of day, if the retail <span class="dictionary">licensee</span>&#x2019;s records are not available for inspection, the retailer shall provide the records to a <span class="dictionary">special agent</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> within 24 hours after a request is made to inspect the records. <a id="paragraph-248109" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-204/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 4-44; 1958, c. 192; 1968, c. 7, &#xA7; 4-98.6; 1970, c. 784; 1988, c. 261, &#xA7;&#xA7; 4-134, 4-135, 4-137; 1992, cc. 161, 220; 1993, c. 866; 2003, cc. 1029, 1030; 2007, cc. 99, 799; 2008, c. 513; 2018, c. 729; 2019, c. 706; 2020, cc. 1113, 1114; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 281, 282; 2022, cc. 78, 79; 2024, cc. 105, 159.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
