Please amend the current code to allow growlers be filled in gourmet beer stores!

Matthew Lake

Wine & Beer Westpark

The Wine Seller is a wonderful local business trying to strike out and offer services many others do not in the area. I gladly throw my support in the corner of The Wine Seller and hope to see that the growler law is amended to help continue The Wine Sellers growth as a local community member and business. 

 I think this will cause problems for the state and ABC. I vote no.

Growler sales by specialty beer and wine shops is a common industry practice in many states in the southeast . It does not encourage heavier consumption in any way, and is best suitted for specialty store sales versus on-premise license sales.  Also it is descrimitory to the specialty licensees to only allow on-premise licensees to sell this product which is an off-premise item.  I can see no way that this would cause problems for the VABC, as it is widely practiced throughout other states withou issue.  This would simply allow the specialty licensees to better serve their market.  

I absolutely support the change to this law to allow growler sales at local bottle shops.  The benefits to both the community and VA's economy far outweigh any concerns the VABC might have.  Between an increase in consumer choice and a shot in the arm to an already burgeoning market sector, this proposal is a win on all sides of the discussion.

As a consumer, I support a change to the ABC regulations to allow specialty beer and wine stores to sell beer in "growler" format.  This change would allow consumers additional choice while bringing the regulation for retailers in line with that of Virginia restaurants and breweries.  Filling growlers allows retailers to offer alternative forms of packaging (some consumers prefer the taste of draft beer in a growler over factory bottled/canned beer) and the ability to sell some products that have limited or no availability in packaged form (predominantly kegged products).

Nicholas Standlick

The state should allow gourmet shops to offer growlers of beer for sale to the general public. Doing so would allow a greater choice in packaging and products to the public. It would also allow gourmet shop owners to further distinguish their businesses from those shops that offer cheap bottled beer. To allow only on/off premise licenses to sell growlers is inconsistent and inequitable. I fail to see any reason why providing growlers at gourmet shops would pose any greater safety risk than selling them at an on/off premise establishment, especially since gourmet shops offer a narrower range of products and typically have more restricted hours. Although not currently in the wine and beer business, I have seven years experience managing a variety of retail wine/beer shops.

Yes i am in support of allowing retail beer and wine shops to be allowed to fill growlers.

The sale of growlers of craft brewed beers is an excellent way to enjoy something new with a reusable container.  The rules regarding the sale of growlers by gourmet and craft beer sellers should be ammended to permit these businesses to sell growlers as a means of increasing revenue in a tough economy as well as a means to allow those of us who enjoy fresh, craft brewed beer to do so in a manner we desire.

Please allow the filling of growlers by specialty food stores.  Growlers are a traditional way that families used to use to have beer with meals.  Traditionally holding only 64 ounces, the limited amount of beer the growler holds promotes quality versus quantity, reducing alcohol consumption by the populace.

I fully support the amendment to allow these shops to sell Growlers. I cannot believe it is not already allowed.

Buying beer by the growler is a good way to reduce use of wasteful packaging materials and the energy used to transport said extraneous packaging. Couple that with the fact that growlers are reusable and you have a compelling reason to allow growler fills at gourmet bottle shops. Keep Virginia green!

Allowing goumet shops that have an off premise license to sell growlers for off premise consumption is no different than allowing those with an on/off premise license to sell for off premise consuption. Also as we try to be a good local business this only stops us from making a differance and satisfy our customers demands.

Growler sales will only help small businesses with a Goumet Shop License stay in business and meet customer demands. There is no way this will have a negitive inpack on the VABC. Off premise is off premise and should not require an on premise license to sell off premise.

I support this petition to allow growler sales. Thank you, Peter Bernhardt

As a VA resident I can see no downside to growler fills at my favorite specialty shops. There are many beers that are unavailable in bottles that I would like to enjoy in my own home. This will increase sales of craft beer and small breweries in this state creating jobs and increasing profits for a growing community. This also means I can take beer home and  will frequent these small business more often increasing there sales.

I support the change to this law to allow growler sales at specialty stores.  This promotes small businesses and exposes the community to unique craft microbrews.  This is a segment not supported by VABC sales.

The use of growlers to purchase and consume beer is deep in tradition in the Colonial region of Virginia.  Currently, most people are limited to the purchase of beer in bottles only, due to limited access to the very few establishments which are capable of filling growlers with specialty ales.  The ammending of this provision will go a long way in opening up the beer market to those in a manner for which it was originally intended.  I strongly encourage the passing of this ammendment.

Gourmets shops should sell growlers,

Growler sales by specialty beer and wine shops is a common industry practice in many states in the southeast . It does not encourage heavier consumption in any way, and is best suitted for specialty store sales versus on-premise license sales.  Also it is descrimitory to the specialty licensees to only allow on-premise licensees to sell this product which is an off-premise item.  I can see no way that this would cause problems for the VABC, as it is widely practiced throughout other states withou issue.  This would simply allow the specialty licensees to better serve their market. 

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Please amend the current code to allow growlers be filled in gourmet beer stores!

Growler sales should be permitted for specialty stores.  It is silly to inhibit responsible beer drinkers from enjoying their brews in this economical and environmentally friendly fashion.

Growlers are a great way to showcase local breweries, provide fresh (potentially preservative-free) beer, and to bring additional business to small local boutiques. Craft beer is the largest growing segment of the beer industry, and growlers statistically are predominantly used for home consumption.

In short, Growlers are an untapped (pun intended) revenue stream that promotes responsible drinking, because it's the only practical way to have draft beer at home.

Thank you for your time and consideration

Why is it that I can get my growler filled by 2 local restaurants & 1 local brewer, but not at The Wine Seller?  The Wine Seller is a respectable establishment, with a staff that knows a lot about the products they sell.  This is ridiculous!  The ABC board allows them to start filling growlers, then yanks that privilege a month later, while the 3 establishments I mentioned above are still selling without skipping a beat. What is the big difference here? Why is this even an issue? I do hope that the ABC board reconsiders & allows The Wine Seller to start pouring the gourmet drafts once again. 

I would ask VA ABC to amend its regulation regarding growler sales.  At this time a shop must have an on premise license to sell growlers off premise.  In my opinion this makes no sense.  A shop sells wine and beer off premise to customers so I don't understand the rationale for differentiating growlers.  A growler is 64 ounces of beer, less than a 6 pack of 12 ounce bottles.  I would argue that a customer would purchase this beer to enjoy at home instead of an individual drinking a pitcher of beer then driving home under the influence.  Revenue losses to restaurants and bars would be negligible but would really help a small gourmet shop owner's bottom line in this difficult economy.  One could argue that a growler has a screw cap which could be construed as easily accesible but many wines today have the same and bottled beer has an easy to remove cap.  Adults already know not to drink and drive so please do not punish the huge majority because some idiots will get behind the wheel and drive under the influence.  The cost of selling food to meet the ABC on premise regulation is prohibitive to most small businesses.  The margin on a growler sale will help keep a small business owner up and running.  It will bring in tax revenue for the state, keep people employed and let craft beer aficinados happy while they enjoy their beverage at home.  Please amend the current regulation to let small gourmet shops that sell wine and beer to sell growlers off premise.  Thank you for your time and consideration.

As an active duty serviceman, I would love to be able to go get a growler full of a taste of home. Many craft breweries only make draft beer and being able to refill a growler of a beer made back home would bring a little of that to my home, and allow me to share that with friends. We all share stories while deployed about our home town, but it would be nice to share a little more when we get home.

Please allow custom and craft beer stores to sell growlers to the public for off consumption.

I think growlers should be allowed to be sold off premise.  It's an old law that doesn't pertain to todays people.  It would be easy enough to require an ABC seal over the cap and if you are pulled over with the seal broken, it would be considered an open container. Let's sell growlers in VA and show all of these other southern states how it's done.  Don't limit the middle class in making money.

Please allow custom and craft beer stores to sell growlers to the public for off consumption.

As a Virginia citizen, I request that the ABC permit the use of growlers for beer sales.  This method of beer sales/distribution permits a broad range of beers, brewed by small scale breweries, to new markets that would typically be unavailable to the brewer and the consumer.  As this represents a new potential revenue stream for small businesses (as well as Virginia through taxes) in these challenging economic times, I fail to see a negative aspect to this proposal.  It would be a win for small businesses, a win for the consumer, and a win for the Commonwealth.

I would ask VA ABC to amend its regulation regarding growler sales.  At this time a shop must have an on premise license to sell growlers off premise.  In my opinion this makes no sense.  A shop sells wine and beer off premise to customers so I don't understand the rationale for differentiating growlers.  A growler is 64 ounces of beer, less than a 6 pack of 12 ounce bottles.  I would argue that a customer would purchase this beer to enjoy at home instead of an individual drinking a pitcher of beer then driving home under the influence.  Revenue losses to restaurants and bars would be negligible but would really help a small gourmet shop owner's bottom line in this difficult economy.  One could argue that a growler has a screw cap which could be construed as easily accesible but many wines today have the same and bottled beer has an easy to remove cap.  Adults already know not to drink and drive so please do not punish the huge majority because some will get behind the wheel and drive under the influence.  The cost of selling food to meet the ABC on premise regulation is prohibitive to most small businesses.  The margin on a growler sale will help keep a small business owner up and running.  It will bring in tax revenue for the state, keep people employed and let craft beer aficinados happy while they enjoy their beverage at home.  Please amend the current regulation to let small gourmet shops that sell wine and beer to sell growlers off premise.  Thank you for your time and consideration.

I support local gourmet shops to sell beer in "growler" form to take off premises. Many states sell beer this way in the North, like Pennsylvania and New York. Why not Virginia? Even Canada does it! They say they "prefer the refillable bottle mainly because it is the least expensive packaging option" (www.grrn.org/beverage/refillables/canada.html). Growlers are reusable, recyclable, with little to no packaging. This is great for the state! A green alternative! Furthermore, many beers are not sold in traditional bottles and can only be sold by the keg. Our only opportunity to try these beers would be with a growler! I hope you decide to amend the law so local Virginia shops can sell growlers, a green alternative.

I encourage modification to the rule to allow sales of growlers at speciality wine and beer stores.

Walt Keeler

I support the ability to buy growlers of beer at specialty shops. 

This change will help support small businesses in the commonwealth and will promote business growth and create jobs. Therefore I support the ammendment.

The interest in high-end microbrews is certainly growing in Virignia and it could be a real economic boon for small businesses.  I think that growlers at boutique stores such as the Wine Seller in Williamsburg are a wonderful option, not so different than the other options available at this wonderful small business.  I see that growlers are available at bars; how is the Wine Seller any different?  I hope you will allow boutique stores to offer growlers.

Growler fills are a great way to benefit both local breweries that only make certain brews in draft form as well has provide a unique and niche market for gormet stores like the Wine Seller to help grow their business.  Also good for the customer in providing options and choice.  Everyone wins and a growler with the cap placed on is no different than and other closed container once handed over.  Please close this odd loophole for the benefit of all.  Many thanks!

IT is my belief that the sale of Growlers for obvious off site consumption should be allowed.  This permit would promote competition and provide convenience to citizens.  To restrain a wine shop from selling a Growler is to say that the purchase is either for on premise consumption, which it is not, or that it exceeds the alcoholic content that is permitted of a primarily wine seller.  I have used growlers to serve some small dinner parties which I have hosted at my home.  I think they are convenient and certainly better than the use of recycled bottles and cans, whom are not 100% recycled as I see them in many non-green type containers and garbage areas.  I think the growler would certainly be recycled due to the money factor.  I am able to keep one in my small refrigerator and they are well suited and sized for this purpose.  I do not think you should restrain competition in the sale of these.  I do not believe they offer any threat to be utilized on premises.  I think they should be allowed to be sold at the Wine Seller in Williamsburg, as well as other similar wine stores.  They certainlty present a business opportunity to enhance business and at the same time be more enviromentally friendly.

I support the sale of beer in growlers by gourmet wine and beer retailers. These gourmet shops are small, locally owned businesses that must compete with large chains.  We all win if our local small businesses thrive. The sale of well-crafted beer in growlers is a specialized service that gourmet retailers can offer, and will set them apart from the chain stores with which they must compete.

I support this petiton to ammend the law allowing gourmet shops to refill growlers.  Most of these gourmet shops are local small business and this will allow them the opportunity to expand and grow their businesses and further support the local economies.

The Wine Seller is a great local business that provides unparalled customer service.  They are a unique and valued business in Williamsburg and deserve the opportunity to further develop their business. I fully support the Wine Seller and I hope the State of Viginia will do the same, please amend the growler law. 

Whenever I'm shopping for beer or wine, I shop the Wine Seller.  They have an excellent selection and their service is superior to any other shop in town.  If they were to have a growler station, it would only improve an already great place to shop. 

Please keep in mind that this service is not provided in many places.  As a customer, I would love to have this option available to me right in town. 

Please allow the Wine Seller to provide Williamsburg residents with yet another great service!

Please approve allowing wine sellers and small business to sell growlers. 

Sale of growlers for consumption off the premises just makes sense.  It is environmentally friendly, more economical for the consumer, and allows a greater choice of product. 

The boutique style of beer/wine stores should be allowed to sell Growlers. I feel that they have more control of this type of sale than even on/off premises establishments do.   And they are primarily in the business of selling alcoholic beverages so why shoudn't they be able to sell it in the form of Growlers.  Also, they are ussually small businesses and need as many ways of increasing their revenue as possble.  The small business is the best entity for creating more jobs. 

As a Virginia resident and taxpayer, I request that the ABC permit the use of growlers for beer sales.  This method of beer sales/distribution permits a broad range of beers, brewed by small scale breweries, to new markets that would typically be unavailable to the brewer and the consumer.  As this represents a new potential revenue stream for small businesses (as well as Virginia through taxes) in these challenging economic times, I fail to see a negative aspect to this proposal.  It would be a win for small businesses, a win for the consumer, and a win for the Commonwealth.

Help small local buisinesses succeed.