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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>83781</law_id><section_number>4.1-400</section_number><catch_line>Construction and purpose</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>4.1-218</reference><reference>4.1-225</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="4">Wine Franchise Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>This chapter shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies.
		The underlying purposes and policies of the chapter are:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> To promote the interests of the parties and the public in fair business relations between <span class="dictionary">wine wholesalers</span> and wineries, and in the continuation of wine wholesalerships on a fair basis; <a id="paragraph-300327" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-400/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> To preserve and protect the existing three-tier system for the distribution of wine, which system is deemed <span class="dictionary">material</span> to the proper regulation by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> of the distribution of <span class="dictionary">alcoholic beverages</span>; <a id="paragraph-300328" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-400/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> To prohibit unfair treatment of <span class="dictionary">wine wholesalers</span> by wineries, promote compliance with valid franchise <span class="dictionary">agreements</span>, and define certain rights and remedies of wineries in regard to cancellation of franchise <span class="dictionary">agreements</span> with wholesalers; <a id="paragraph-300329" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-400/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> To establish conditions for creation and continuation of all wholesale wine distributorships, including original <span class="dictionary">agreements</span> and any renewals or amendments thereto, to the full extent consistent with the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> and Constitutions of the Commonwealth and the United States; and <a id="paragraph-300330" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-400/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> To provide for a system of designation and registration of franchise <span class="dictionary">agreements</span> between wineries and wholesalers with the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> as an aid to <span class="dictionary">Board</span> regulation of the distribution of wine by wholesalers. <a id="paragraph-300331" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/4.1-400/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 4-118.22; 1985, c. 542, &#xA7; 4-118.42; 1989, c. 10; 1993, c. 866.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
