Presented by Jim Martin

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VFW School of Instruction
Rules and Regulations of Canteens and Club Rooms
Presented by Jim Martin State Judge Advocate
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• CONGRESSIONAL CHARTER
• AND BY-LAWS
• and
• MANUAL OF PROCEDURE
• and
• RITUAL
• Sec. 708 709

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• Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United
• States (VFW) is a federally chartered
• membership corporation created by Act of
• Congress. The VFW does not own an
• interest in any clubroom, canteen, facility or
• any fund raising activity operated by any
• such chartered unit, nor are clubrooms,
• canteens, facilities or other fund-raising
• activities operated for or on behalf of the
• VFW.

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• The VFW does not derive any profit from
• such facilities or activities. Clubrooms,
• canteens, facilities and other fund-raising
• activities of Chartered unit are carried on by
• such units in furtherance of the fraternal,
• Patriotic, historical and educational purpose
• set forth by Congress.

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• No unit chartered by the Veterans of Foreign
• Wars of the United States, and no clubroom
• or canteen sponsored or conducted or
• operated by, for or in behalf of any such
• chartered unit shall incorporate under the
• laws of the state in which it is located for any
• purpose

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• The VFW shall not be responsible for the
• negligent or wrongful acts or omissions nor
• contractual obligations or debts of any Post,
• nor for the negligent or wrongful acts or
• omissions or contractual obligations or debts
• of any activity, clubroom, holding company
• or unit sponsored, conducted or operated
• by, for or in behalf of any Post.

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• Any activity or club room sponsored,
• conducted, or operated by or in behalf of a
• Post shall be at all times under direct control
• of such Post and all funds derived therefrom
• shall be at all times under direct control of
• such Post.

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• Any Post owning and/or operating, directly
• or by reason of a holding company or other
• entity substantially controlled by the Post or
• its members a canteen or clubroom or other
• facility to members and their guest must
• maintain general liability insurance including
• if necessary or appropriate, liquor liability
• insurance.

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• Such insurance must be of a type and amount
  sufficient to protect the Post and must name, as
  additional insured's, the Veterans of Foreign
  Wars of the United States and the Department in
  which such Post is located

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• All money, property or assets of any kind or
  nature, as well as all books and records, owned,
  held or used by any activity, clubroom, conducted
  or operated by, for or in behalf a Post shall be
  the property of such Post, must be placed in the
  care and custody of the quartermaster. Such
  money, property, assets, books and records shall
  be subject to the same rules and under the same
  procedures as any other Post money, property,
  assets, books and records.

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• No Post clubroom operated by for or on the
• behalf of any Post may own any property
• jointly or in common with any individual,
• firm, partnership, association or corporation
• or other business or charitable entity,
• including veterans organizations, nor may
• they participate in any arrangement whereby
• the funds of such Post clubroom are
• expended on property held by another entity
• for joint use of such Post.

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• Posts are under no obligation to serve any
• person in their canteen, except for their own
• Post comrades and auxiliary members.
• However if their Post By-Laws admit other
• VFW members and Auxiliary members. The
• word Auxiliary pertains to Men's Auxiliary
• members as well as Ladies Auxiliary
• members. In order to prove that a visitor is
• a member of the VFW or its Auxiliaries,
• he/she should be required to show a valid
• membership card.

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• Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage
• Control
• What are the rules for a club?
• Basically the rules for clubs are the same as
• for retail operations with the exception of
• hours of sale and brown bagging. Clubs are
• limited to members and their invited guests
• except for specific and limited times they
• may operate open to the public.

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• How old does a person have to be to
• purchase alcoholic beverages? 21
• What hours can happy hours be
• conducted? 600 AM until 900 PM
• How many drinks can a patron purchase at
• one time? No more than two drinks of wine,
• beer or mixed beverages during Happy
• Hour. During all other times, no more than
• two mixed drinks at one time, wine and beer
• - no restriction.

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• Can a convicted felon be employed in a
• licensed establishment? No however, they
• may be employed as a busboy, cook or
• other kitchen help.
• When can employees drink alcohol?
• Employees of a wine and beer licensed
• establishment may consume at any
• time but may not become intoxicated.
• Employees of a mixed beverage licensed
• establishment may consume on a dinner
• break or when they have gone off duty for the
• evening.

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• No sales are permitted to underage persons, who
  are defined under ABC law as persons less than 21
  years of age
• Do not allow a person less than 21 years of age
  to possess or consume alcoholic beverages on the
  licensed premises
• Do not sell or serve alcoholic beverages to
  intoxicated persons, or allow someone else to
  purchase alcoholic beverages for intoxicated
  persons.
• Do not allow an intoxicated person to consume or
  possess alcoholic beverages on the premises of
  your business.

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• Do not allow an intoxicated person to loiter on
  the premises of your business.
• An ABC manager must be on the premises whenever a
  licensee is open for business
• ABC managers must be
• -At least 21 years of age
• -On-duty at all times
• -Be responsible for overseeing all business
  conducted under the license while the
  establishment is open and for posting his or her
  name clearly

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• All licensees must always have at least one ABC
  manager on duty who can satisfactorily speak and
  read English.
• An employee who is on duty and in a position that
  is involved in the selling or serving of
  alcoholic beverages to customers in a mixed
  beverage, or wine and beer establishment, cannot
  consume any type of alcoholic beverage while on
  duty

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• Happy Hours and Advertising
• -It is unlawful to conduct a happy hour between
  the hours of 9 p.m. and 2 a.m.
• -A person cannot possess more than two drinks at
  one time.
• -It is illegal to sell pitchers of mixed
  beverages, sell two or more drinks for one price,
  giveaway drinks, sell unlimited drinks for one
  price, or advertise happy hour in the media or on
  exterior advertising.

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• Licensees can be charged criminally and
  administratively for certain offenses.
• -An ABC hearings officer assesses administrative
  charges.
• -Administrative penalties can be probation,
  fines, a suspended license, and possibly,
  revocation of the licensees ABC license.

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