Jacob Grier

Enough ragging on Alabama. Virginia’s alcohol laws are ridiculously archaic too. The latest: The VA ABC has fined local Spanish restaurant La Tasca for serving genuine sangria:

The fruity cocktail of wine and brandy that is a must-have at Spanish restaurants violates a law that forbids mixing wine or beer with spirits. If convicted, a bartender could go to jail for a year…

The state prohibits combining wine or beer and spirits and pre-mixing or storing drinks outside their original containers, except for those in approved frozen-drink dispensers.

Officials say the goal is to show customers that they are getting what they asked for and to show regulators that the alcohol has been purchased from the state, as is required in Virginia.

The ABC seems determined to ruin places I enjoy. Their previous assaults include shutting down beer pong at Dr. Dremo’s, closing Best Cellars for not selling enough food with its wine, forbidding Rustico to sell hopsicles, and ending pitcher margaritas at Mexicali Blues. It’s hard to imagine a more consumer-unfriendly agency.