(a) A retail liquor outlet that is licensed to sell liquor for off-premises consumption may apply for a private liquor delivery license permitting the order, sale, and delivery of sealed liquor bottles or cans in the original container. The order, sale, and delivery of sealed liquor bottles or cans in the original container is permitted for off-premises consumption when completed by the licensee to a person purchasing the sealed liquor bottles or cans through a telephone, a mobile ordering application, or a web-based software program, authorized by the licensee’s license. There is no additional fee for a licensed retail liquor outlet to obtain a private liquor delivery license. The order, sale, and delivery process shall meet the requirements of this section. The order, sale, and delivery process is subject to the penalties of this article.
(b) A third party, not licensed for liquor sales or distribution, may apply for a private liquor delivery license for the privilege of ordering and delivery of sealed liquor bottles or cans, from a licensed retail liquor outlet. The order and delivery of sealed liquor bottles or cans permitted for off-premises consumption by a third party licensee when a retail liquor outlet sells to a person purchasing the sealed liquor bottles or cans through telephone orders, a mobile ordering application, or a web-based software program. The private liquor delivery license non-prorated, nonrefundable annual fee is $200 per third party entity, with no limit on the number of drivers and vehicles.
(c) The private liquor delivery license application shall comply with licensure requirements in this article and shall provide any information required by the commissioner.
(d)Sale Requirements. -
(1) The purchase of sealed liquor bottles or cans in the original container may accompany the purchase of food and the completion of the sale may be accomplished by the delivery of food and sealed liquor bottles or cans in the original container by the licensee or third party licensee;
(2) Any purchasing person shall be 21 years of age or older, shall not be visibly or noticeably intoxicated at the time of delivery, and shall meet the requirements set forth in this chapter for the sale of alcoholic liquors and in §11-16-1et seq. of the code, for nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer.
(3) “Food”, for purposes of this section, means food that has been cooked, microwaved, or that is pre-packaged food from the manufacturer.
(4) An order, sale, and delivery may consist of up to five 750 milliliter sealed liquor bottles for each order:Provided, That the entire delivery order may not contain any combination of sealed liquor bottles or cans in the original container, where the combination is more than 128 fluid ounces of liquor total; and
(5) A third party delivery licensee shall not have a pecuniary interest in a retail liquor outlet, as set forth in this article. A third party private liquor delivery licensee may only charge a convenience fee for the delivery of any alcohol. The third party private liquor delivery licensee may not collect a percentage of the liquor delivery order, but may continue to collect a percentage of the delivery order directly related to food. The convenience fee charged by the third-party private liquor delivery licensee to the purchasing person shall be no greater than $20 per delivery order where a sealed liquor bottle or can in the original container is ordered by the purchasing person. For any third party licensee also licensed for other nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer delivery pursuant to §11-16-1et seq. of this code, wine delivery pursuant to §60-8-1et seq. of this code, or a sealed craft cocktail growler delivery pursuant to §60-7-1et seq. of this code, the total convenience fee of any order, sale, and delivery of sealed alcoholic liquor or nonintoxicating beer, or nonintoxicating craft beer shall not exceed $20.
(e)Private Liquor Delivery Requirements. —
(1) Delivery persons employed for the delivery of a sealed liquor bottles or cans in the original container shall be 21 years of age or older and a retail liquor outlet and a third-party private liquor delivery licensee shall file each delivery person’s name, driver’s license, and vehicle information with the commissioner;
(2) A retail liquor outlet and a third-party private liquor delivery licensee shall train delivery persons on verifying legal identification and in identifying the signs of intoxication. A retail liquor outlet and a third-party private liquor delivery licensee shall submit certification of the training to the commissioner;
(3) The retail liquor outlet or third party private liquor delivery licensee shall hold a private liquor bottle delivery permit for each vehicle delivering a sealed liquor bottle or can in the original container pursuant to subsection (g) of this section:Provided, That a delivery driver may retain an electronic copy of his or her permit as proof of licensure;
(4) A retail liquor outlet or third party private liquor delivery licensee shall deliver food and a sealed liquor bottle or can order in the original container in the market zone or contiguous market zone where the licensed retail liquor outlet is located;
(5) A retail liquor outlet or third party private liquor delivery licensee may only deliver food and a sealed liquor bottle or can in the original container to addresses located in West Virginia, The retail liquor outlet or third party private liquor delivery licensee shall pay and account for all sales and municipal taxes;
(6) A retail liquor outlet or third party private liquor delivery licensee may not deliver food and a sealed liquor bottle or can in the original container to any licensee licensed under §11-16-1et seq. of this code, and under this chapter;
(7) Deliveries of food and a sealed liquor bottle or can in the original container are only for personal use, and not for resale; and
(8) A retail liquor outlet or third party private liquor delivery licensee shall not deliver and leave food and a sealed liquor bottle or can in the original container at any address without verifying a person’s age and identification as required by this section.
(f) Telephone, mobile ordering application, or web-based software requirements. —
(1) The delivery person shall only permit the person who placed the order through a telephone order, a mobile ordering application, or web-based software to accept the food and a sealed liquor bottle or can in the original container for delivery which is subject to verification upon delivery with the delivery person’s visual review and verification;
(2) Any mobile ordering application or web-based software used shall include the delivery driver’s name and vehicle information and delivery shall be subject to legal identification verification;
(3) Any telephone ordering system shall maintain a log or record of the purchasing person’s identification and details of the sale, and shall include the delivery driver’s name and vehicle information and delivery shall be subject to legal identification verification;
(4) All records are subject to inspection by the commissioner. A retail liquor outlet or third party private liquor delivery licensee shall retain records for three years, and shall not unreasonably withhold the records from the commissioner’s inspection; and
(5) The retail liquor outlet or third party delivery licensee shall hold a valid private liquor bottle delivery permit required by subsection (g) of this section for each vehicle that may offer delivery.
(g)Private Liquor Bottle Delivery Permit. —
(1) A retail liquor outlet or third party delivery licensee shall obtain and maintain a retail transportation permit for the delivery of and a sealed liquor bottle or can in the original container.
(2) A retail liquor outlet or third party private delivery licensee shall provide vehicle and driver information, requested by the commissioner. Upon any change in vehicles or drivers, the licensee shall update the driver and vehicle information with the commissioner within 10 days of the change.
(3) Subject to the requirement of §60-6-12 of this code, a private liquor bottle delivery permit shall meet the requirements of a transportation permit authorizing the permit holder to transport liquor subject to the requirements of this chapter.
(h)Enforcement. —
(1) The retail liquor outlet or the licensed third party are responsible for any violations committed by their employees or independent contractors under this article, and more than one violation may be issued for a single violation involving multiple licensees, employees, or independent contractors.
(2) Any license or permit granted by this section is subject to the penalties of probation, monetary fines, suspension, and revocation, as set forth in this article, for violations committed by the licensee, its employees, or independent contractors.
(3) It is a violation for any licensee, its employees, or independent contractors to break the seal of a sealed liquor bottle. A person who violates the provisions of this subdivision is subject to the maximum penalties available in this chapter.
(4) For purposes of criminal enforcement of the provisions of this article, persons ordering, purchasing, and accepting delivery of orders are considered to be purchasers.
(i) Retail liquor outlets licensed for off-premises sales of sealed liquor bottles and cans in the original container may provide for the sale and curbside in-person or in-vehicle pick-up of sealed liquor bottles or cans in the original container, subject to verification that the purchasing person is 21 years of age or older, and not visibly, or noticeably intoxicated, and as otherwise specified in this article.
(j) Retail liquor outlets licensed for off-premises sales of sealed liquor bottles and cans in the original container may provide for the sale and delivery through a drive up or drive through structure, approved by the commissioner, of sealed liquor bottles or cans in the original container, subject to verification that the purchasing person is 21 years of age or older, and not visibly, or noticeably intoxicated, and as otherwise specified in this article.