Third-party delivery services have boomed in popularity in recent years. Brands such as Uber Eats and DoorDash allow people to obtain meals from their favorite restaurants without leaving the comfort of their homes.
Virginia lawmakers noticed the rising popularity of these services and identified a likely public safety risk. Specifically, they worried about the possibility of minors illegally purchasing alcohol through third-party services. Lawmakers initially passed a bill intended to ban alcohol delivery through third-party services on July 1st, 2026. After a review of compliance records, the law has changed.
What did compliance assessments uncover?
Reviewing the records of third-party alcohol deliveries found that services had systems in place to ensure consistent compliance with age restrictions on alcohol purchases. After the bill initially passed, reviews of prior transactions across Virginia made it clear that third-party compliance was already high enough to protect minors and the public.
Therefore, outlawing alcohol delivery is not necessary for public safety. Virginia state lawmakers amended the bill previously passed to eliminate the date on which the prohibition on alcohol delivery was set to take effect.
It is worth noting that the law only applies to alcoholic beverages that people intend to consume themselves and not items they plan to sell to others. There are also restrictions on how much people can order.
Businesses generally cannot deliver more than two mixed beverages at one time, and each drink must contain at least one mixer. Each meal purchased makes the consumer eligible for up to two mixed beverages for off-premises consumption or delivery.
Compliance with these new requirements could potentially reduce the risks of drunk driving in Virginia. People who have already had a few drinks no longer need to drive to a restaurant or grocery store to obtain more alcohol. They can rely on delivery service providers to bring the alcohol to them. In theory, alcohol delivery services reduce the risk of drunk driving charges and devastating crashes caused by those who have already had something to drink.
For those facing impaired driving allegations or dealing with the aftermath of a crash, the insight of a licensed Virginia attorney can be helpful. Lawyers can help people navigate the criminal courts or hold others accountable for violating the law and causing harm.
