The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control released its Fiscal Year 2014 sales statistics last Friday, posting a record-breaking year in sales revenue.
ABC store gross sales have risen $32 million in the past year to $801 million, according to a Department press release. Additionally, profits rose to $140 million — a $5 million increase from the last fiscal year.
Profits and taxes from ABC stores contributed $387 million to Virginia’s general fund, a $17 million increase from the last fiscal year. Since 1934, the ABC has contributed more than $8.6 billion to Virginia’s general fund.
ABC Chairman Jeff Painter said in the press release the increased sales are a result of certain strategies pursued by his agency.
“ABC’s repeat record-setting performance reflects our efforts to adapt to an ever-changing market in sometimes challenging economic times,” Painter said. “Increased sales can also be attributed to population growth in the commonwealth, the strategic opening of seven new stores and a continued positive response to Sunday store hours.”
These seven new stores have contributed $2.9 million in revenue for Virginia. Additionally, new shelving arrangements have been designed to encourage buyers to try new brands. Among the most popular brands included in the sales were Jack Daniel’s, Smirnoff, Grey Goose, and Fireball.
Painter said these sales have been very encouraging for the ABC and suggest a future of economic success.
“In the current fiscal year we have plans for a third premier location opening later this fall in Virginia Beach,” he said. “The new retail initiative underscores a commitment to providing excellent customer service and is representative of Virginia ABC’s growing retail and marketing divisions.”
Despite the recent uptick in sales at Virginia’s ABC stores, Susan Bruce, director of the University’s Gordie Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, said in an email that statistics on alcohol consumption for students at the University do not show an upward trend in alcohol consumption. She said the Center has conducted a survey about alcohol consumption at the University for the past 25 years.
“Over the past 10 years, high-risk drinking has declined, as have negative consequences,” Bruce said.
She said the University has consciously worked to mitigate the prevalence of substance-related issues to decrease the occurrence of negative consequences.
“We believe this is due to a number of factors, most notably, an increase in peer education efforts, enhanced campaigns that market accurate social norms and programs that encourage students to be active bystanders,” Bruce said.
Bruce said multiple organizations and initiatives at the University provide students with resources about how to manage alcohol-related concerns. Included among them are the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team, the Stall Seat Journal and Hoos in Recovery.
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