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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>79871</law_id><section_number>4.1-227</section_number><catch_line>Suspension or revocation of licenses; notice and hearings; imposition of penalties</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>4.1-101.1</reference><reference>4.1-211</reference><reference>4.1-212.1</reference><reference>4.1-225</reference><reference>4.1-225.1</reference><reference>4.1-226</reference><reference>4.1-328</reference><reference>4.1-329</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="2">Licenses Granted by Board; Limitations; Revocation and Suspension</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Except for temporary licenses, before the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> may impose a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> against a brewery <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> or suspend or revoke any license, reasonable notice of such proposed or contemplated action shall be given to the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> in accordance with the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Formal hearings; litigated issues" href="/2.2-4020/">2.2-4020</a> of the Administrative Process Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title; purpose" href="/2.2-4000/">2.2-4000</a> et seq.).
			Notwithstanding the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Subpoenas, depositions and requests for admissions" href="/2.2-4022/">2.2-4022</a>, the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall, upon written request by the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span>, permit the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> to inspect and copy or photograph all (i) written or recorded statements made by the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> or copies thereof or the substance of any oral statements made by the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> or a previous or present employee of the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> to any <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer, the existence of which is known by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> and upon which the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> intends to rely as <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> in any adversarial proceeding under this chapter against the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span>, and (ii) designated books, papers, documents, tangible <span class="dictionary">objects</span>, buildings, or places, or copies or portions thereof, that are within the <span class="dictionary">possession</span>, <span class="dictionary">custody</span>, or control of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> and upon which the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> intends to rely as <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> in any adversarial proceeding under this chapter against the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span>. In addition, any <span class="dictionary">subpoena</span> for the production of documents issued to any person at the request of the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> or the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="General powers of Board" href="/4.1-103/">4.1-103</a> shall provide for the production of the documents sought within ten working days, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="General powers of Board" href="/4.1-103/">4.1-103</a>.
			If the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> fails to provide for inspection or copying under this section for the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> after a written request, the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall be prohibited from introducing into <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> any items the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> would have lawfully been entitled to inspect or copy under this section.
			The action of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> in suspending or revoking any license or in imposing a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> against the holder of a brewery license shall be subject to judicial review in accordance with the Administrative Process Act. Such review shall extend to the entire evidential record of the proceedings provided by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> in accordance with the Administrative Process Act. An <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> shall lie to the <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of <span class="dictionary">Appeals</span> from any <span class="dictionary">order</span> of the <span class="dictionary">court</span>. Notwithstanding &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Security for appeal" href="/8.01-676.1/">8.01-676.1</a>, the final <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> or <span class="dictionary">order</span> of the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall not be suspended, stayed or modified by such <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> pending <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> to the <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of <span class="dictionary">Appeals</span>. Neither mandamus nor <span class="dictionary">injunction</span> shall lie in any such case. <a id="paragraph-286088" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-227/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> In suspending any license the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> may impose, as a condition <span class="dictionary">precedent</span> to the removal of such suspension or any portion thereof, a requirement that the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> pay the cost incurred by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> in investigating the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> and in holding the proceeding resulting in such suspension, or it may impose and collect such civil penalties as it deems appropriate. In no event shall the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> impose a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> exceeding $2,000 for the first violation occurring within five years immediately preceding the date of the violation or $5,000 for the second violation occurring within five years immediately preceding the date of the second violation. However, if the violation involved selling <span class="dictionary">alcoholic beverages</span> to a person prohibited from purchasing <span class="dictionary">alcoholic beverages</span> or allowing consumption of <span class="dictionary">alcoholic beverages</span> by underage, <span class="dictionary">intoxicated</span>, or <span class="dictionary">interdicted persons</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> may impose a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> not to exceed $3,000 for the first violation occurring within five years immediately preceding the date of the violation and $6,000 for a second violation occurring within five years immediately preceding the date of the second violation in lieu of such suspension or any portion thereof, or both. The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> may also impose a requirement that the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> pay for the cost incurred by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> not exceeding $25,000 in investigating the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> and in holding the proceeding resulting in the violation in addition to any suspension or civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> incurred. <a id="paragraph-286089" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-227/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Following notice to (i) the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> of a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> that may result in the suspension or <span class="dictionary">revocation</span> of his license or (ii) the applicant of a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> to resolve a contested application, the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> may accept a consent agreement as authorized in subdivision 21 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="General powers of Board" href="/4.1-103/">4.1-103</a>. The notice shall advise the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> or applicant of the option to (a) admit the alleged violation or the validity of the objection; (b) <span class="dictionary">waive</span> any right to a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> or an <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> under the Virginia Administrative Process Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title; purpose" href="/2.2-4000/">2.2-4000</a> et seq.); and (c)(1) accept the proposed restrictions for operating under the license, (2) accept the period of suspension of the <span class="dictionary">licensed</span> <span class="dictionary">privileges</span> within the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>&#x2019;s parameters, (3) pay a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> in lieu of the period of suspension, or any portion of the suspension as applicable, or (4) proceed to a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span>. <a id="paragraph-286090" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-227/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> In case of an <span class="dictionary">offense</span> by the holder of a brewery license, the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> may (i) require that such holder pay the costs incurred by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> in investigating the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span>, (ii) suspend or revoke the on-premises <span class="dictionary">privileges</span> of the brewery, and (iii) impose a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> not to exceed $25,000 for the first violation, $50,000 for the second violation, and for the third or any subsequent violation, suspend or revoke such license or, in lieu of any suspension or portion thereof, impose a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> not to exceed $100,000. Such suspension or <span class="dictionary">revocation</span> shall not prohibit the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> from manufacturing or selling <span class="dictionary">beer</span> manufactured by it to the owners of boats registered under the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of the United States sailing for ports of call of a foreign country or another state, and to persons outside the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-286091" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-227/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall, by regulation or written <span class="dictionary">order</span>: <a id="paragraph-286092" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-227/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Designate those (i) objections to an application or (ii) alleged violations that will proceed to an initial <span class="dictionary">hearing</span>; <a id="paragraph-286093" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-227/#E1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Designate the violations for which a <span class="dictionary">waiver</span> of a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> and payment of a civil charge in lieu of suspension may be accepted for a first <span class="dictionary">offense</span> occurring within three years immediately preceding the date of the violation; <a id="paragraph-286094" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-227/#E2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Provide for a reduction in the length of any suspension and a reduction in the amount of any civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> for any retail <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> where the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> can demonstrate that it provided to its employees <span class="dictionary">alcohol</span> server or seller training certified in advance by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>, which training shall include a course developed or approved by the Department of Criminal Justice Services pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Powers and duties of the Board and the Department" href="/9.1-102/">9.1-102</a> on recognizing and reporting instances of suspected human trafficking; <a id="paragraph-286095" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-227/#E3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Establish a schedule of penalties for such <span class="dictionary">offenses</span>, prescribing the appropriate suspension of a license and the civil charge acceptable in lieu of such suspension; and <a id="paragraph-286096" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-227/#E4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Establish a schedule of <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> for which any <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> may be waived upon a showing that the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> has had no prior violations within five years immediately preceding the date of the violation. No <span class="dictionary">waiver</span> shall be granted by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>, however, for a <span class="dictionary">licensee</span>&#x2019;s willful and knowing violation of this subtitle or <span class="dictionary">Board</span> regulations. <a id="paragraph-286097" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-227/#E5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 4-37; 1956, c. 521; 1970, cc. 545, 676; 1976, cc. 696, 698, 702; 1978, c. 579; 1979, c. 537; 1980, c. 299; 1981, cc. 24, 586, 600; 1982, c. 214; 1983, c. 608; 1984, cc. 180, 200, 703; 1985, c. 559; 1986, cc. 101, 318, 615; 1987, c. 252; 1991, c. 468; 1992, cc. 161, 820; 1993, c. 866; 1995, cc. 549, 563; 1996, c. 309; 1999, c. 648; 2008, c. 513; 2009, cc. 135, 279; 2017, cc. 698, 707; 2020, cc. 1113, 1114; 2025, c. 231.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
