§11-16-9 Amount of license tax; Class A and Class B retail dealers; purchase and sale of nonintoxicating beer permitted; distributors; brewers; brewpubs. - West Virginia Statutes

§11-16-9. Amount of license tax; Class A and Class B retail dealers; purchase and sale of nonintoxicating beer permitted; distributors; brewers; brewpubs.

There is hereby levied and imposed an annual license tax upon all dealers in and of nonintoxicating beer as defined by this article, which license period shall begin on the first day of July of each year and end on the thirtieth day of June of the following year, and, if granted for a less period, the same shall be computed semiannually in proportion to the remainder of the fiscal year as follows:

(1) Retail dealers shall be divided into two classes, Class A and Class B. In the case of a Class A retail dealer the license fee shall be one hundred fifty dollars for each place of business; the license fee for social, fraternal or private clubs not operating for profit, and having been in continuous operation for two years or more immediately preceding the date of application, shall be one hundred fifty dollars: Provided, That railroads operating in this state may dispense nonintoxicating beer upon payment of an annual license tax of ten dollars for each dining, club or buffet car in which the same is dispensed.

Class A licenses issued for railroad dining, club or buffet cars, as herein provided, shall authorize the licensee to sell nonintoxicating beer at retail for consumption only on the licensed premises where sold. All other Class A licenses shall authorize the licensee to sell nonintoxicating beer at retail for consumption on or off the licensed premises.

In the case of a Class B retailer, the fee for a Class B license authorizing the sale of both chilled and unchilled beer shall be one hundred fifty dollars for each place of business. A Class B license shall authorize the licensee to sell nonintoxicating beer at retail in bottles, cans or other sealed containers only, and only for consumption off the licensed premises. Sales under this license to any person at any one time must be in less quantities than five gallons: Provided, That a Class B retailer may sell to a consumer, for personal use and not for resale, draught beer in quantities of one-eighth, one-fourth and one-half barrels in the original containers. Such license may be issued only to the proprietor or owner of a grocery store. For the purpose of this article the term "grocery store" means and includes any retail establishment commonly known as a grocery store or delicatessen and caterer or party supply store, where food or food products are sold for consumption off the premises, and shall include and mean a separate and segregated portion of any other retail store which is dedicated solely to the sale of food, food products and supplies for the table for consumption off the premises. The commissioner may promulgate legislative rules pursuant to chapter twenty-nine-a of this code necessary to carry this provision into effect. Caterers or party supply stores will be required to purchase the appropriate licenses from the alcohol beverage control administration.

(2) In the case of distributors, the license fee shall be one thousand dollars for each place of business.

(3) In the case of a brewer with its principal place of business located in this state, the license fee shall be one thousand five hundred dollars for each place of manufacture.

(4) In the case of a brewpub, the license fee shall be one thousand dollars for each place of manufacture.