Wine tasting while armed?

[AlanM]

I never leave the house without my EDC.
On occasion my favorite food market will have people passing out free, albeit small, samples of wine.
Usually two small paper cups of two different wines.
Sometime it's a sample of a newly introduced flavored beer like drink.

Would I be violating any law if I partake of these tastings?

Not that it would be a big loss if I can't try their wares.
I'm not a fan of alcoholic beverages anyway.

[flyingron]

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. My three major interests.

I'm actually a wine expert, and I won't taste wine unless they give me a glass. I'm not drinking out of nyquil cups. It's impossible to evaluate the wine in such circumstances.

As far as the law goes, it would depend solely on the establishment you are in. The VA CHP law says that you can not consume alcoholic beverages in a restaurant or club authorized to sell them. Restaurant and club have specific meaning in the ABC law.

So if you go to a winery or to a wine festival or to even Total Wine and taste wine, you're fine. If you are at some place that serves food or at the bar at the VFW hall or whatever, you may not.

Of course, this applies only to CONCEALED carry. The state is not concerned with how much you drink if you are open carrying. (well they are, but for practical legal matters, that's how the law reads).

[AlanM]

You're correct about the cups. I miss spoke. Not paper, plastic.
Not being a wine (or liquor of any kind for that matter) person, what it's in makes little difference to me.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a teetotaler, but I drink VERY rarely and never, after my early days in the Navy, go out just to imbibe.

[CCFan]

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. My three major interests.

What's the old saying, ATF should be a convenience store?

The VA CHP law says that you can not consume alcoholic beverages in a restaurant or club authorized to sell them. Restaurant and club have specific meaning in the ABC law.

Can you expound on this a bit? I was under the impression that we have restaurants (ABC on prem) that serve alcohol, but that's it - are you saying there's a difference between "restaurants" and "clubs" legally in Virginia?

[CCFan]

Ah - found it....

Here's the bit about concealed carry:

https://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp50 ... .2-308.012

and here's the definition of Club (in the list)

https://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp50 ... od+4.1-100