Online Alcohol Class offers the most comprehensive MIP instruction available in Virginia. We offer Level 1 (8 hour), Level 2 (16 hour), and Level 3 (24 hour) web-based Minor in Possession and Minor in Consumption Classes.
Often students and parents call us to ask about the MIP laws in Virginia. As a courtesy, we've compiled the laws from every U.S. state and listed them below.
Please note that the Virginia minor in possession laws shown below are meant to help help you to understand your local Virginia laws. While we have tried to show the most up-to-date version of Virginia MIP laws, but we do not guarantee its accuracy. This information is not a substitute for legal advice from a lawyer. It is in your best interest that you find an appropriate lawyer for more information about Virginia MIP laws.
| Class | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Hour MIP Class | $124 | Register Now |
| 8 Hour (Level 1) MIP Class | $149 | Register Now |
| 12 Hour MIP Class | $199 | Register Now |
| 16 Hour (Level 2) MIP Class | $249 | Register Now |
| 24 Hour (Level 3) MIP Class | $319 | Register Now |
Possession is prohibited WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTION(S):
Notes: POSSESSION: Virginia law provides for two separate family exceptions. First, Virginia permits persons under twenty-one to possess alcoholic beverages due to such person's "making a delivery of alcoholic beverages by order of his parent." APIS interprets the phrase “by order of his parent” as providing for parental consent. Va. Code Ann. § 4.1-305. Second, Virginia permits underage possession when an alcoholic beverage is provided to an underage guest in a private residence and the underage guest is "accompanied by a parent, guardian, or spouse who is twenty-one years of age or older." Va. Code Ann. §§ 4.1-305, 4.1-200. The second exception is limited to specific locations, but the first one is not. Because at least one of these exceptions is not conditioned on a specific location, APIS codes the Parent/Guardian exception with a check mark rather than a plus sign.
Consumption is prohibited WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTION(S):
Internal possession is not explicitly prohibited
Purchase is prohibited and there is NO ALLOWANCE for youth purchase for law enforcement purposes
Furnishing is prohibited WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTION(S):
Notes: Prior to July 1, 2005, Virginia’s law allowing any person to keep or possess alcoholic beverages “in his residence for his personal use or that of his family” was not specific to minors and therefore did not meet the criteria for an exception in this policy topic. With the passage of legislation effective July 1, 2005, however, this exception was incorporated in a new underage furnishing provision and now meets the criteria for coding the Parent / Guardian and Spouse exceptions to underage furnishing, when the alcohol is provided by a person “in his residence.”
Beer: 18 for servers and 21 for bartenders
Wine: 18 for servers and 21 for bartenders
Spirits: 18 for servers and 21 for bartenders
Notes: Although bartenders are generally required to be at least 21 years old in Virginia, a person who is at least 18 years of age may sell or serve beer for on-premises consumption at a counter in an establishment that sells beer only. Effective March 4th, 2009, a person who is at least 18 years of age may also sell or serve wine for on-premises consumption in an establishment that sells wine only.
Beer: Not Specified
Wine: Not Specified
Spirits: Not Specified
Provision(s) targeting minors:
Provision(s) targeting retailers:
Notes: Virginia defines “bona fide evidence of legal age” as including “a valid motor vehicle driver's license issued by any state of the United States or the District of Columbia, armed forces identification card, United States passport or foreign government visa, valid special identification card issued by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, or any valid identification issued by any other federal or state government agency.” See 3 Va. Admin. Code § 5-50-20(B). In determining whether a licensee has reason to believe a purchaser is not of legal age, the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Board considers whether an ordinary and prudent person would have reason to doubt that the purchaser is of legal age based on the general appearance, facial characteristics, behavior and manner of the purchaser, and whether the seller demanded, was shown and acted in good faith in reliance upon bona fide evidence of legal age that contained a photograph and physical description consistent with the appearance of the purchaser. See 3 Va. Admin. Code § 5-50-20(A). APIS has interpreted the “good faith reliance” requirement as providing the retailer a defense for reasonable reliance on an apparently valid ID.
BAC limit: 0.02 - a BAC level above the limit is per se (conclusive) evidence of a violation
Applies to drivers under age 21
Keg definition: 4 gallons or more
Prohibited:
Purchaser information collected:
Warning information to purchaser: active – purchaser action required (e.g., signature)
Deposit: not required
Provisions specifically address disposable kegs
Virginia has two Use/Lose laws:
Law # 1- Type(s) of violation leading to driver's license suspension, revocation, or denial: - Underage purchase - Underage possession - Underage consumption
Use/lose penalties apply to minors under age 21
Authority to impose driver's license sanction
Length of suspension/revocation:
Law # 2- Type(s) of violation leading to driver's license suspension, revocation, or denial: - Underage purchase - Underage possession - Underage consumption
Use/lose penalties apply to minors under age 18
Authority to impose driver's license sanction
Length of suspension/revocation: 180 days
No State-imposed liability for hosting underage drinking parties