
Based on Virginia's alcoholic beverage control regulations, the time that alcohol must cease depends on the type of establishment and the kind of license it holds. The provided context from the Virginia Administrative Code, specifically section 3VAC5-50-30 concerning "Restricted hours," indicates where these rules are codified, but the text itself is incomplete. Therefore, a comprehensive answer requires drawing upon established knowledge of these state laws.
For establishments with an on-premises license, such as restaurants and bars, the sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. daily. This means that alcohol service must stop at 2:00 a.m.
For retailers with an off-premises license, which includes grocery stores and convenience stores selling beer and wine, the restricted hours are from 12:00 midnight to 6:00 a.m. Consequently, these stores must stop selling alcohol at midnight.
The sale of liquor and spirits is handled separately, as it is controlled by the state through government-run Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Authority stores. The operating hours for these stores vary by location, but they typically close much earlier than the legally mandated cutoff times for other retailers, often by 9:00 p.m. or 10:00 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, with more limited hours on Sundays.


