Virginia ABC – Protecting you from Sangria
Ah, Virginia. Your lobbyist-driven laws make me miss living there. Yes, Virginia is a state where you can walk into Dick’s Sporting Goods and walk out twenty minutes later with a Glock 19 and enough ammo to really ruin your day. You can walk down the street with your weapon in plain sight and turn into a Spanish Tapas restaurant to get an bite to eat. Feel free to alarm the waitress as she takes your order for some Setas a La Parrilla while staring at the handle of your Glock poking out of your shoulder holster. All this is fine in Virginia, just don’t order Sangria.
Yes, folks, Sangria is illegal to serve in Virgina because of a 1934 law that states that restaurants cannot combine wine or beer with liquor. Restaurant La Tasca found out the hard way, getting cited in 2006 and being ordered to pour 40 gallons of the demon liquor down the drain.
To their credit, the State Assembly is looking at the issue. Quoting a Washington Post article:
The General Assembly, which began a 60-day legislative session this month, is considering whether to tweak the antiquated law to allow restaurants and bars to serve sangria made of more than wine.
A House subcommittee is scheduled to debate the bill Thursday.
Here’s hoping it is a short debate.
Look, plenty of states have ridiculous antiquated laws on the books that are good for a laugh now and again but aren’t ever enforced. So, the problem isn’t with the wayward post-prohibition law. The problem is the overzealous enforcement by the agency.
It’s good that they are looking at it though. I sure do enjoy a cocktail to go with my Glock.
