This article was written by WTOP’s news partner InsideNoVa.com and republished with permission. Sign up for InsideNoVa.com’s free email subscription today.
The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) is now offering curbside pickup for online orders at 370 stores across the commonwealth.
After placing an online order, customers can opt for contactless pickup of spirits, Virginia wines and mixers from ABC stores the same day the order is placed, as long as the selected products are available in the store.
Customers can take advantage of curbside service by following these steps:
- Visit Virginia ABC’s website, abc.virginia.gov, and select a store that offers curbside pickup (look for a car icon).
- Place an order online and pay with a credit/debit card.
- Follow the prompts to schedule a pickup time at least two hours in advance.
- Arrive at the scheduled pickup time and park in the designated area. Call the store.
Show a valid ID to the retail associate to receive the order. No signature required.
Virginia ABC introduced curbside service in select stores on April 29, adding more stores each week. Currently, 96% of ABC’s 388 stores offer curbside pickup. Due to limited available parking, 18 stores are unable to offer curbside pickup. Since the service began, more than 40% of online customers have opted for curbside pickup.
“As the sole retailer of distilled spirits in Virginia, we’re pleased to include curbside pickup as a convenient and contactless way for customers to purchase products from our stores. We will continue to offer this service to our customers well after the need for social distancing has subsided,” said ABC Chief Executive Officer Travis Hill. “Implementation of this new service is a testament to the hard work of employees across the organization and just the latest example of our dedication to keeping our staff and customers safe while providing excellent service.”
For customers who choose to make in-store purchases, Virginia ABC has implemented safety measures using retailer guidance provided by the Virginia Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to include:
- No more than 10 customers permitted in a store at one time
- Mandatory use of face masks by store employees
- Plexiglas shields at registers
- Floor markers to ensure customers stand at least 6 feet apart from one another
- Daily cleaning and sanitizing with particular attention to most frequented areas including checkout counters and
high-touch surfaces such as door handles and knobs - Hand sanitizer at registers for customer and employee use
All ABC stores continue to operate at a reduced schedule – from noon to 7 p.m., seven days a week. Many stores are providing modified counter service where customers stand at a safe distance from others at the front of the store while ABC employees retrieve products at their request. Customers are encouraged to browse their store’s online catalog of products at https://www.abc.virginia.gov/products before visiting.
For more information about Virginia ABC’s curbside service and a list of the locations excluded from this service, visithttps://www.abc.virginia.gov/products/online-ordering/curbside-pickup.
