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.

Statement from RAMW President and CEO Shawn Townsend on Dram Shop Act Vote

February 8, 2024

Statement from RAMW President and CEO Shawn Townsend on Restaurant Revitalization and Dram Shop Clarification Amendment Act of 2023 Vote We are pleased that this week’s bill adds key definitions and standards to dram shop law to lower the exorbitant cost of the District’s liquor liability insurance for our local neighborhood restaurants, which we all know is some of the most expensive in the US. Thanks to Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, Chair of the Committee on Business and Economic Development, a number of other measures to make doing every day business better in the District are...

2023 Member Survey Findings

January 2, 2024

TO: Interested Parties FROM: Che Ruddell-Tabisola Vice President, Government Affairs Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington DATE: Nov. 1, 2023 RE: Struggling Under Declining Traffic and Shrinking Sales, DC Restaurants Call on DC Council to Act Now A year after passage of Initiative 82, significant numbers of DC restaurants are contending with dwindling customer traffic and diminishing revenues, threatening the viability especially of local independent restaurants. “Our neighborhood restaurants are caught between a rock and a hard place,”said Shawn Townsend, President and...

Operator Town Hall 2 pm Wednesday

May 8, 2023

Serving Responsibly Why Strengthening Liquor Liability Law is Good Business Register Here Are you a District restaurant, bar, or venue operator concerned about the cost of liquor liability insurance and threat of lawsuits? Join this Operator Town Hall to learn how strengthening dram shop laws help to promote responsible serving practices and reduce alcohol-related harms in communities – all while lowering insurance costs. The Problem: Unlike most states, District law is vague about how or when a business can be held liable for the actions of an intoxicated guest. As a result, District...

Extended Hours for 2022 FIFA World Cup

October 18, 2022

Eligible licensees may operate 24-hours and sell and serve alcohol between 6:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. during the 2022 FIFA World Cup taking place November 20-December 18, 2022. To participate, licensees must register and pay a non-refundable $100 fee by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 17. If approved, licensees will be issued a permit that must be posted next to their alcohol license inside the premises. Note the following: Eligible licensees include On-Premises Retailers, Manufacturers with an On-Site Sales and Consumption Permit, and Temporary License holders. Extended hours start the evening...

ABRA: License Renewals, Remaining Holiday Weekends Eligible for Extended Hours, & More

September 12, 2022

All information below is posted as shared through the 09.12.22 edition of ABRA's Last Cal Newsletter: Extended Hours There are four (4) holiday weekends remaining in 2022 that are eligible for extended hours . They include: Indigenous Peoples' Day Weekend | Friday, October 7 – Monday, October 10 Veterans Day Weekend | Thursday, November 10 – Sunday, November 13 T hanksgiving Day Weekend | Wednesday, November 23 – Sunday, November 27 C hristmas Day Weekend | Friday, December 23 – Monday, December 26 Establishments registered in the program may sell and serve...