Alcoholic Beverage Control

Alcohol service is a huge and positive part of the full service restaurant business. It is also a huge responsibility. Virginia, DC and Maryland each have its own laws and regulations governing the distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages. But what is the same across state lines is the ever changing regulatory landscape.

From new ABC laws to enforcement initiatives, RAMW is an advocate for fair and reasonable legislation and is your resource for information on the alcoholic beverage regulations that affect your business.

Behind the Rise of Cabernet Sauvignon in Chile

January 9, 2020

Original content: VinePair By Jennifer Simonson Chile runs along South America’s western edge from the dry desert in the north to a field of glaciers in the south. Rugged mountains, fertile valleys, never-ending coastline, rumbling volcanoes and scorched sand dunes all clash to provide this long, thin country with a captivating landscape. For winemakers, that landscape is more than captivating, it is a grape grower’s paradise. The low cost of land, rare interference from vine pests and diseases, dependable dry, warm summers, and nearby mountains providing a regular supply of fresh...Read more

3 Major Challenges For Wine In 2020, & What You Can Do About Them

January 9, 2020

Original content: Forbes By Cathy Huyghe Contributor If you’re a wine lover, and if you’re heads-up about current events and world news, then the New Year hasn’t been very celebratory so far. The bad news seems overwhelming and far-reaching, between devastating fires in Australia to bureaucrat types in Washington and Europe debating tariffs and deciding the fate of so many wine businesses we love. It seems overwhelming, partly because it feels so out of our control. I’d argue that, despite the large-scale ramifications of current events, there are things that...Read more

Holiday Drinks: How to Serve Them Safely & When to Stop Serving

December 16, 2019

Original content c/o: National Restaurant Association Get your staff up to speed on safe alcohol service. Holiday celebrations can bring in a lot of business for restaurants and bars. According to market research firm Technomic, alcohol sales during the fourth quarter of the year can account for up to 30% of alcohol sales overall (retail and restaurant). As operations get busy, staff members need to stay focused on serving alcohol responsibly, says Jay Lerdal, program manager for the National Restaurant Association’s ServSafe Alcohol training program. During holiday celebrations, you...

Montgomery County Council Voices Support for the "Reform on Tap" Act

February 22, 2018

House Bill 518 supports the State’s breweries by lifting outdated restrictions on selling and purchasing craft beer ROCKVILLE, Md., February 22, 2018 —The Montgomery County Council sent a letter to the chair of the Economic Matters Committee, Delegate Dereck E. Davis, in unanimous support of Maryland House Bill (HB) 518, the Reform on Tap Act. HB 518 would lift restrictions on the selling and purchasing of beer at craft breweries throughout Maryland. The House Economic Matters Committee has scheduled a hearing for HB 518 on February 23 at 1:00pm. “Local breweries have a big...Read more

Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration's 2018 Renewal Checklist

February 15, 2018

All class A wholesalers, class A manufacturers, and class A off-premises retailers (liquor stores) in the District are due to renew alcohol licenses by: Monday, April 2, 2018. Renewed licenses will expire in three years. Licensees that wish to renew their licenses should ensure they complete the following. Update Your Contact Info Licensees that need to update a new mailing address, email address or phone number with ABRA can do so by completing and returning the form available on abra.dc.gov. Contact information can be verified by: Emailing ; or Calling (202) 442-4423. Check Your Mail ABRA...Read more

Learn How to Get an ABC License for Your New Business

February 15, 2018

Learn How to Get an ABC License for Your New Business Looking to get an ABC License for your new business in the District? Check out ABRA's video to learn more about the process.Read more

Major Legislative Victories for DC Restaurants & Bars

December 17, 2014

Major Legislative Victories for DC Restaurants & Bars Today the Council of the District of Columbia voted on B20-0902 – Omnibus Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Amendment Act of 2014 . There were two major victories for RAMW and our members today! These victories would not have been possible without your support, calls and letters to the Council. Thank you for responding to our calls to action. Your mobilization helped ensure that we were able to: Hold the line with regards to penalties for repeat offenders. The Council did not increase fines for repeat offenders caught serving alcohol...

Autumn Daylight Saving Time

October 31, 2014

Autumn daylight saving time is just around the corner. On Sunday, November 2, clocks fall back from 2 a.m. to 1 a.m. As a result, alcoholic beverage licensed establishments will automatically gain an extra hour to sell and serve alcoholic beverages. Establishments will be required to stop all sales and service of alcoholic beverages by 3 a.m. unless the establishment's license states otherwise. Licensees that have questions can contact the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration at (202) 442-4423 or visit their website . Subscribe to receive current updates and information directly...

Three ways Virginia could raise the price of liquor, per McAuliffe's budget

October 22, 2014

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe 's announcement this week that the state would make up some of its budget deficit by increasing the markup on distilled spirits already has those in the hospitality industry gearing up for paying more — and thus charging more — for drinks. McAuliffe didn't outline how exactly the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control would raise an additional $2.5 million from the liquor markup, but ABC is considering three options, according to a letter sent to stakeholders Wednesday and provided to the Washington Business Journal. Though some...Read more

Arlington pub crawls to pay security and cleanup costs

July 22, 2014

Pub crawls, the wildly popular events that encourage people to travel from bar to bar for drink specials, will not be banned in Arlington County’s retail corridors as a result of a vote by the County Board to scrutinize them more carefully. But those who sponsor the events soon will have to start picking up the tab for police and cleanup crews, which some bar owners and promoters say could kill the crawls nonetheless. County Board members, while loath to discourage the free-spending young adult demographic, voted unanimously Saturday to make organizers of pub crawls pay costs previously...