CHAPTER 11. TAXATION.

ARTICLE 16. NONINTOXICATING BEER.

§11-16-6f. Nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer delivery license for a licensed Class B retail dealer or a third-party; requirements; limitations; third-party license fee; retail transportation permit; and requirements.

(a) A Class B retail dealer who is licensed to sell nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer may apply for a nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer delivery license permitting the order, sale, and delivery of nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer in a sealed original container of bottles or cans, and sealed growlers, when separately licensed for growler sales. The order, sale, and delivery of nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer is permitted for off-premises consumption when completed by the licensee or the licensee's employees to a person purchasing the nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer by a telephone, a mobile ordering application, or web-based software program, as authorized by the licensee's license. There is no additional fee for licensed Class B retail dealers to obtain a nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer delivery license. The order, sale, and delivery process shall meet the requirements of this section. The order, sale, and delivery process is subject to the penalties of this article.

(b) A third party, not licensed for nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer sales or distribution, may apply for a nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer delivery license for the privilege and convenience to offer ordering and delivery services of nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer in the sealed original container of bottles or cans, and sealed growlers, from a licensee with a growler license. The order, sale, and delivery of nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer is permitted for off-premises consumption when the Class B retail dealer sells to a person purchasing the nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer through a telephone order, a mobile ordering application, or web-based software program. The nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer delivery annual license fee is $200 per third-party licensee, with no limit on the number of drivers and vehicles. The delivery license fee under this subsection may not be prorated nor refunded.

(c) The nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer delivery license application shall comply with licensure requirements in §11-16-8 of this code and shall require any information set forth in this article and as reasonably required by the commissioner.

(d) Sale Requirements. —

(1) The nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer purchase shall accompany the purchase of food and the completion of the sale may be accomplished by the delivery of food and nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer by the licensee or third-party licensee;

(2) Any person purchasing nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer shall be 21 years of age or older, may not be visibly or noticeably intoxicated at the time of delivery, and meet the requirements set forth in this article for the sale of nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer;

(3) Food, for purposes of this section, means food that has been cooked, microwaved, or that is pre-packaged food from the manufacturer; and

(4) A third-party delivery licensee may not have a pecuniary interest in a Class B retail dealer, as set forth in this article. A third-party delivery licensee may only charge a convenience fee for the delivery of any nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer. The third-party licensee may not collect a percentage of the delivery order for the delivery of nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer, but may continue to collect a percentage of the delivery order directly related to food. The convenience fee charged by the third-party delivery licensee to the purchasing person may not be greater than $20 per delivery order. For any third-party licensee also licensed for wine delivery, as set forth in §60-8-6f of this code, the total convenience fee for any order, sale, and delivery of sealed wine may not exceed $20.

(e) Delivery Requirements. —

(1) Delivery persons employed for the delivery of nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer shall be 21 years of age or older. A Class B retail dealer and a third-party licensee shall file each delivery person's name, driver's license, and vehicle information with the commissioner;

(2) A Class B retail dealer and a third-party licensee shall train delivery persons on verifying legal identification and in identifying the signs of intoxication and submit the certification of the training to the commissioner;

(3) The Class B retail dealer or third-party delivery licensee shall hold a retail transportation permit for each delivery vehicle delivering sealed nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer pursuant to §11-16-6f(g) of this code: Provided, That a delivery driver may retain an electronic copy of his or her permit as proof of the licensure;

(4) A Class B retail dealer and a third-party licensee may deliver food and sealed nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer orders in the county where the Class B retail dealer is located;

(5) A Class B retail dealer and a third-party licensee may only deliver food and sealed nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer to addresses located in West Virginia. A Class B retail dealer and a third-party licensee shall pay and account for all sales and municipal taxes;

(6) A Class B retail dealer and a third-party licensee may not deliver food and nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer to any other Class B licensee;

(7) Deliveries of food and sealed nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer are only for personal use, and not for resale; and

(8) A Class B retail dealer and a third-party licensee shall not deliver and leave food and sealed nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer at any address without verifying a person's age and identification as required by this section.

(f) Telephone, mobile ordering application, or web-based software requirements. —

(1) The delivery person may only permit the person who placed the order through a telephone, mobile ordering application, or web-based software to accept the food and nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer delivery. The delivery is subject to age verification upon delivery with the delivery person's visual review and age verification;

(2) Any mobile ordering application or web-based software used must create a stored record and image of the purchasing person's legal identification and details of the sale, accessible by the delivery person for verification, and shall include the delivery driver's name and vehicle information and delivery shall be subject to legal identification verification;

(3) Any telephone ordering system shall maintain a log or record of the purchasing person's legal identification and details of the sale, accessible by the delivery person for verification, and shall include the delivery driver's name and vehicle information and delivery shall be subject to legal identification verification;

(4) All records are subject to inspection by the commissioner. A Class B retail dealer and a third-party licensee shall retain all records for three years, and may not unreasonably withhold the records from the commissioner's inspection; and

(5) Each vehicle delivering nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer shall be issued a retail transportation permit in accordance with §11-16-6f(g) of this code.

(g) Retail Transportation Permit. —

(1) A Class B retail dealer and a third-party licensee shall obtain and maintain a retail transportation permit for the delivery of food and nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer.

(2) A Class B retail dealer or a third-party licensee shall apply for a permit and provide vehicle and driver information, required by the commissioner. Upon any change in vehicles or drivers, Class B retail dealer and a third-party licensee shall update the vehicle and driver information with the commissioner within 10 days of the change.  

(h) Enforcement. —

(1) The Class B retail dealer and a third-party licensee are responsible for any violations committed by their employees or independent contractors under this article, and more than one violation may be issued for a single violation involving multiple Class B retail dealers or third-party licensees, employees, or independent contractors.

(2) A license or permit granted by this section is subject to the penalties of probation, monetary fines, suspension, and revocation, as set forth in this article, for violations committed by the Class B retail dealer or third-party licensee, their employees, or independent contractors.

(3) It is a violation for any Class B retail dealer or third-party licensee, their employees, or independent contractors to break the seal of a growler subject to the maximum penalties available in this article.

(4) For purposes of criminal enforcement of the provisions of this article, persons ordering, purchasing, or accepting delivery of orders are considered to be purchasers.

§11-16-6f. Nonintoxicating beer or nonintoxicating craft beer delivery license for a licensed Class B retail dealer or a third-party; requirements; limitations; third-party license fee; retail transportation permit; and requirements.