The Virginia Beer Museum is serving a 25-day suspension of its ABC license though sign on its door indicates that the establishment is closed for renovations.
The Virginia Beer Museum (VBM) in Front Royal has been slapped with a 25-day suspension of its liquor license by the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority following an incident in which a staff member sold beer to an underage patron.
ABC spokesman Pat Kane stated in a Monday, March 27 email to The Shaw Report that “the Virginia ABC conducted an Underage Buyer check of the Virginia Beer Museum on July 6, 2022, and a VBM staff member sold alcohol to the underage buyer during the check.”
“That followed an earlier April 11 citation involving failure to require an ID of an underage customer by another staffer at the VBM. The citations were issued during checks last year of numerous local alcoholic beverage and tobacco product sellers resulting in numerous citations involving sales to minors.”
Kane said that the museum signed a consent agreement with Virginia ABC on Feb. 28, 2023, and elected to accept a 25-day license suspension instead of a $2,500 fine. This suspension is in effect March 20-April 14. Per the ABC, an establishment under temporary suspension of license cannot serve, sell or allow consumption of alcohol until the suspension is lifted.
A sign on the door of the Virginia Beer Museum says “temporarily closed due to restoration” and indicated there will be a “grand re-opening” on April 14.” That date coincides with the end of the suspension imposed by the ABC Beverage Control Authority.
The VBM, owned by local criminal defense attorney David A. Downes, first opened its doors in Sept. 2016, following Virginia General Assembly legislation on the promotion of Virginia craft beers, which was signed off by then-Governor Terry McAuliffe. Bill amendment 769 permitted the museum to sell beer without being a restaurant or a brewery, limited to selling only its own product. State Senator Scott Surovell (Democrat, District 36) said in 2016 that the museum’s educational focus is why he sponsored the bill.
According to online Virginia court filing documents, Taylor M. Budd was cited on July 6, 2022, for violation of ABC law. ABC Special Agent Kevin Weatherholtz filed charging documents on July 11, 2022, citing Budd with sale of alcohol to a person who was either under 21 years of age, interdicted, or intoxicated. The charge was amended to selling alcohol to an underage person, which is a Class 3 misdemeanor that carries a $500 fine.
Downes represented Budd in the case, first appearing in Warren County General District Court on Aug. 3, 2022. On Oct. 12, 2022, the case was continued with deferred disposition, which allows a court to withhold sentencing and place conditions on a defendant that, when met, allow for charges to be dismissed. Budd’s case should be dismissed on April 12, 2023.
On April 11, 2022, while working at the Virginia Beer Museum, April E. Lazo was cited by Warren County Deputy C. Wigington for selling alcohol to an underage, intoxicated or interdicted individual. The charge was later amended to failure to require ID before selling alcohol, which is a Class 3 misdemeanor carrying a $500 fine. That citation from the Warren County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) was part of a broader effort to stem the sale of alcohol and tobacco products to underage individuals
The WCSO, on April 14, 2022, issued a media release detailing two days of compliance checks at local businesses in Front Royal and Warren County, using a “reliable and trusted young adult” and school resource officers A. Ulibarri, C. Wigington, H. Molina, O. Fuentes, and W. Atwood, led by Sergeant C. Burke.
The release issued by Sheriff Mark A. Butler – and approved by Major Jeffrey Driskill – stated the March 21st and March 23rd, 2022, joint effort with the Warren Coalition was because of increasing citizen complaints regarding sales of tobacco products and alcohol to underage customers.
Butler stated that deputies from the School Resource Division coordinated the plainclothes operations “with the aid of a reliable and trusted young adult.” He also said that the WCSO would “continue conducting such checks at businesses throughout the spring and summer.”
On March 21st and March 23rd, 2022, the above-cited school resource officers and Sgt. Burke conducted compliance checks at 12 local businesses. Of those 12, the release states, “only three passed, properly checking the customer’s state identification and disallowing the sale.” The release continued, “those businesses were thanked for their diligence and proper adherence to the sales of products not approved for our youth.” The compliant establishments were not named in the media release.
According to information provided by the WCSO, the following businesses failed the compliance check on March 21, 2022, and sold either alcoholic beverages or THC Vape products to the underage customer; the clerk was issued a summons in each incident.
• Linden Seven Eleven (sale of alcoholic beverage to a minor)
• Tobacco Hut Front Royal #2 (sale of Vape product to minor)
• Circle K 6th Street (sale of alcoholic beverage to a minor)
• Liberty Gas 5th Street (sale of alcoholic beverage to a minor)
The following businesses failed the compliance check on March 23, 2023, and sold either alcoholic beverages or THC Vape products to the underage customer; the clerk was issued a summons.
• Tobacco Hut Front Royal #1 (sale of THC Vape to a minor)
• Roy’s Express (sale of alcoholic beverage to a minor)
• BP Gas Station, South Street (sale of alcoholic beverage to a minor)
• Rivermont Grocery Store (sale of alcoholic beverage to a minor)
• 619 Market (sale of alcoholic beverage to a minor)
Under the Va. Freedom of Information Act, The Shaw Report requested public records for citations issued by the WCSO for the sale of tobacco products or alcohol to underage individuals from March 24, 2022, forward. Documents provided show that in addition to the citation issued to Lazo on April 11, 2022, sheriff’s deputies issued two others on that date:
PaveMint Smokin’ Taphouse (sale of alcoholic beverage to a minor)
Tobacco Hut & Vape (sale of tobacco to a minor)
On April 13, 2022, sheriff’s deputies issued the following citations:
Henry’s Grocery (sale of alcoholic beverage to a minor)
Los Potrillos Restaurant (sale of alcoholic beverage to a minor)
On Cue Sports Bar & Grill (sale of alcoholic beverage to a minor)
It is unclear why the April citations issued by the WCSO were not included in the news release, though Butler stated, “It is the goal of the Sheriff’s Office to conduct a balanced approach to keeping our children and young people safe through education and enforcement; however, there will be a zero-tolerance approach taken in the event of sales to underage persons.”
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