RD393 - 2010 Annual Report of the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC)


Executive Summary:
ABC completed Fiscal Year 2010 with a record $675.5 million in annual gross sales, up $10 million from the previous year. Retail dollars are up 2.5 percent while mixed beverage licensee sales continue to lag with a 2.5 percent decrease.

In Fiscal Year 2010, ABC collected more than $111 million in excise taxes, $30 million in wine liter taxes, $26 million in general sales taxes, $44 million in malt beverage taxes and $120 million in profit transfers for a total of $333,743,936 in transfers. ABC has contributed more than $1.5 billion dollars to the Commonwealth in the last five years.

Special agents from the agency’s Bureau of Law Enforcement monitor compliance in licensed establishments statewide. During the fiscal year, ABC special agents conducted 16,379 criminal investigations, made 2,570 arrests, completed 1,995 written warnings and 893 written violation reports for administrative action against licenses. ABC agents take an active role in promoting compliance. They trained 1,667 participants in the Responsible Sellers and Servers: Virginia’s Program (RSVP) statewide this fiscal year.

In Fiscal Year 2010, the Hearings, Appeals and Judicial Services Division received 1,040 cases for processing and achieved its goal for the processing average to be under 180 days. The division collected $1,257,350 in civil penalties during the fiscal year.

ABC continues to be a leader in alcohol prevention and community education initiatives. The agency provides thousands of dollars in grant funding to enhance community and university coalitions. In Fiscal Year 2010, ABC distributed 261,666 education/prevention/compliance pieces throughout Virginia.

The ABC-sponsored 24th Annual College Conference, 25th annual YADAPP (Youth Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Project) and the public service announcement (PSA) student challenge were educational highlights of the fiscal year. Also, ABC was awarded the National Liquor Law Enforcement Association’s 2010 Most Innovative Program Award for its alcohol prevention initiative with the U.S. Naval Safety Center.

ABC remains committed to the public safety of Virginia’s citizens, providing alcohol education for people of all ages; excellent customer service at each retail location; and generating a consistent source of revenue for the Commonwealth of Virginia.