Ben Swenson, who runs Hampton Roads Growler, makes the case in the Hampton Roads Business Journal. “Some people within the industry wonder whether it’s time to rewrite the playbook – if not through a major overhaul, then at least tweaks that could better reflect the realities of the 21st century,” he says.
“Some of the regulations, rightfully or not, call to mind the stereotypical lawlessness of Prohibition-era alcohol consumption,” he adds, citing a regulation on lighting of on-premise licensees and cash-on-delivery.
Still, Swenson quotes Travis Hill, chief operating officer of the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, as saying many of Virginia’s laws regarding alcohol originated in the post-Prohibition era. Nevertheless, he says, they are centered on public safety and promoting fair business practices, which remain important today. Read more here.