Bill > SB834

This bill modifies Virginia's alcoholic beverage control laws by removing certain restrictions on how manufacturers, bottlers, importers, brokers, and wholesalers interact with retail licensees. Specifically, the bill eliminates language that previously prohibited these alcohol industry entities from requiring retailers to exclude competing alcoholic beverage products from their establishments. However, the bill retains an important overarching prohibition that prevents manufacturers, bottlers, importers, brokers, or wholesalers from making agreements with retail licensees that would exclude competitors' products from their premises. The legislation maintains the fundamental principle of preventing vertical integration in the alcohol industry and seeks to ensure fair market competition by stopping suppliers from dominating local markets through restrictive agreements. The bill aims to provide more flexibility for alcohol industry participants while still preserving core regulatory protections designed to prevent anti-competitive practices in the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages.

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https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB834