WV by the Numbers • License Counts 2022

As the new year takes shape, let’s take a look at the count of active alcohol licenses, as reported by the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration, January 2022 versus January 2021.

LICENSE CATEGORY	Jan. 2022 Count	Jan. 2021 Count
Private Club (Liquor, Wine, Beer)	1618	1690
Fraternal Club (Liquor, Wine, Beer)	180	197
Private Wine Restaurant	12	9
Taverns (Beer Only)	458	500
Beer Retailer (Grocery, C-Store, Bottle Shops)	2173	2156
Growler Filling (On- & Off-Premise Accnts)	99	105
Wine Retail (Grocery, C-store, etc.)	1779	1730
Wine Direct Shipper	392	354
Liquor Store	180	173
Resident Brewer	31*	28
Non-resident Brewer/Importer	82	83
Farm Winery	25	29
Regular Distillery	10	9
Mini Distillery	9	11
Micro Distillery	3	1
Beer Distributors	35	35
Wine Distributors	35	39
Transportation Permits (alcohol shippers)	56	52

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License Details

Private Club – 1,618

Private club licensees may sell beer, liquor and wine. Almost none of these are truly “private clubs” but must say they are in order to obtain a liquor license. Although primarily on-premise licenses, law changes in 2021, allow options for sales of liquor/mixed drink growlers to-go and for home delivery. This class of license would commonly be considered liquor bars and all sell some kind of food, though that varies widely from packaged snacks to fancy dinner cuisine. They range in size from the tiny video lottery dens to major restaurant chains like Applebees, Olive Garden, and Buffalo Wild Wings. With over little over 1,600 licensees, we have about one liquor bar (private club) for about every 825 adult residents (21 and over). The number of private clubs is down most likely due to the pandemic effect. Annual Cost: $483 – $983.

Fraternal Club – 180

This category is basically a private club license for fraternal organizations. It allows them to sell liquor, beer and wine. Fraternal organizations are entities such as Moose, Elks, American Legion, VFW, etc. Annual Cost: $400

Tavern – 458

The tavern license allows the the sale of beer only. Beer may be sold both for on-premise consumption and to-go. It is bargain priced if all a business wants to sell is beer. Number of licenses decreased most likely due to pandemic effect and from some owners shifting their licensees to the new lower cost Private Club license. Annual Cost: $150

Private Wine Restaurant – 12

Allows the sales of wine and the on-premise consumption of it at the restaurant. Also applies to Wine Spas and Wine B&B licenses. Annual Cost: $250

Beer Retail Grocery -2,173

This is the catch-all license for off-premise beer sales at grocery stores, convenience stores, and liquor stores. The beer must be sold in its original package. WV has one beer retailer for about every 614 adults 21+. Annual Cost: $150

Beer Growler Filling – 99

The growler filling license applies only to beer and allows the holder to fill and sell growlers for consumption off the premises only. May be obtained by private clubs, taverns, brewpubs, and grocery stores. Annual Cost: $100

Wine Retail – 1,779

This is the license required to sell packaged wine to-go if you operate a grocery store or a convenience store. Wine Retailers must purchase their wine from a licensed WV Wine Distributor or a WV licensed winery. Even though it is among the lowest per capita wine consuming states in the nation, WV has one wine retailer for about every 750 adults 21+. Annual Cost: $150

Wine Specialty Store – included in Wine Retail count

Allows a retailer to sell bottled wine to-go but not have the grocery inventory requirement of the regular wine retailer license. Annual Cost: $250

Liquor Store – 180

The license permits the sale of distilled spirits for off-premise consumption. Some are free-standing and others are part of larger retail operations, such as drug stores or grocery store. Retailers must bid on licenses that are good for a 10 year period and also pay an annual fee. WV only has one liquor store for about every 75,733 adults 21+. It would appear that the state could easily support several times that many licenses if the free market were allowed to work as it is in beer and wine retailers. Annual Cost: $2,000

Brewery – 31

Permits the brewing of beer and the sale of packaged beer to consumers for consumption off the premises. Two of these 31 (Big Sandy Brewing and Wheeling Brewing) have ceased brewing as of early 2022, but both licenses remain active. Annual Cost: 12,500 barrels or less $500; up to 25,000 barrels $1,000; over 25,000 barrels $1,500

Brewpub – 29

Required for a brewery to sell its beer by the glass, bottle or can for consumption on the premises of the brewery. On two WV breweries (Bannings and Rippon) do not operate brewpubs. Annual Cost: $500

Non-resident Beer Brewer/Importer – 82

Required for an out-of-state brewer or beer importer to sell its beer to West Virginia beer distributors. Annual Cost: 12,500 barrels or less $500; up to 25,000 barrels $1,000; over 25,000 barrels $1,500

Distillery, Regular – 10

Allows the production of distilled spirits and the sale of packaged products for consumption off the premises. No restrictions on production volume or ingredient sourcing. May operate a tasting room and provide small free samples, but no other on-premise consumption is allowed. Annual Cost: $1,500

Distillery, Mini – 9

For distilleries producing up to 50,000 gallons of alcoholic liquor per year and with no less than 25% of raw agricultural products being produced by the owner of the mini-distillery on the premises of that establishment, and no more than 25% of raw agricultural products originating from any source outside this state. May operate a tasting room and provide small free samples, but no other on-premise consumption allowed. Annual Cost: $50

Distillery, Micro – 3

For small distilleries producing up to 10,000 gallons of alcoholic liquor per year. No more than 25% of raw agricultural products used in production may originate from outside the state. May operate a tasting room and provide small free samples, but no other on-premise consumption allowed. Annual Cost: $ 750

Farm Winery – 25

The license for wineries that grow/produce at least 25% of the raw ingredients that go into their wine. Winery license covers the production of table wines, desert wines, ciders and meads. A licensee may produce any or all of those type products. The winery may sell its packaged products to wine distributors, wine retailers and directly to the consumer for consumption off the premises. Annual Cost: $50

Winery – 0

For wineries that do not grow or source 25% of their ingredients from West Virginia farms. Annual Cost: $1,500

Wine Direct Shipper – 392

Allows an out-of-state or in-state business to ship packaged wine directly to consumers in West Virginia. Numbers increased as wine shipping becomes more popular. Annual Cost: $150 (< 14% ABV) or $250 (>14% ABV)

Beer Distributors – 35

Allows a West Virginia business to purchase beer from in-state or out-of-state brewers and sell it to beer licensed bars and retailers in West Virginia. The count of beer distributors has declined over the past 10 years as mergers have resulted in fewer, but larger, distributors. Annual Cost: $1,000

Wine Distributors – 35

Allows the licensee to purchase wine from wineries and sell to Wine Retailers. Annual Cost: $2,500

Transportation Permit – 56

Required for the commercial transportation of liquor, wine, or beer to, in, or through West Virginia. Each vehicle used must have a permit. Annual Cost: Liquor and Wine $10 for the first vehicle and $1.00 for each additional; for Beer $0 cost but must register.