For the purposes of this article:
(a) “Alcohol” means ethyl alcohol whatever its origin and shall include synthetic ethyl alcohol but not denatured alcohol.
(b) “Alcoholic liquor” includes alcohol, beer, wine, and spirits, and any liquid or solid capable of being used as a beverage, but shall not include nonintoxicating beer.
(c) “An agency” means a drugstore, grocery store, or general store designated by the Commission as a retail distributor of alcoholic liquor for the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Commission.
(d) “Beer” means any beverage obtained by the fermentation of barley, malt, hops, or any other similar product or substitute, and containing more alcohol than that of nonintoxicating beer.
(e) “Brewery” means an establishment where beer is manufactured or in any way prepared.
(f) “Commissioner” or “Commission” means the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Commissioner.
(g) “Department” means the organization through which the Commission exercises powers imposed upon it by this article.
(h) “Distillery” means an establishment where alcoholic liquor other than wine or beer is manufactured or in any way prepared.
(i) “Intoxicated” means a person’s faculties are impaired by alcohol or other substance to the point where physical or mental control or both are markedly diminished.
(j) “Manager” means an individual who is the applicant’s or licensee’s on-premises employee, member, partner, shareholder, director, or officer who meets the licensure requirements of West Virginia Code 11-16-1 et seq. and rules promulgated thereunder who actively manages, conducts, and carries on the day-to-day operations of the applicant or licensee with full and apparent authority or actual authority to act on behalf of the applicant or licensee. Such duties include but are not limited to: coordinating staffing; reviewing and approving payroll; ordering and paying for inventory, such as nonintoxicating beer, wine and liquor, as applicable; and managing security staff, security systems, video and other security equipment; and any further acts or actions involved in managing the affairs of the business, on behalf of owners, partners, members, shareholders, officers, or directors.
(k) “Manufacture” means to distill, rectify, ferment, brew, make, mix, concoct, process, blend, bottle, or fill an original package with any alcoholic liquor.
(l) “Manufacturer” means any person engaged in the manufacture of any alcoholic liquor, and among others includes a distiller, a rectifier, a wine maker, and a brewer. (WVaC 60-1-5)
(m) (1) “Nonintoxicating beer” means all natural cereal malt beverages or products of the brewing industry commonly referred to as beer, lager beer, ale, and all other mixtures and preparations produced by the brewing industry, including malt coolers and nonintoxicating craft beers with no caffeine infusion or any additives masking or altering the alcohol effect containing at least one half of one percent (½%) alcohol by volume, but not more than eleven and nine-tenths percent (11.9%) of alcohol by weight, or fifteen percent (15%) alcohol by volume, whichever is greater. The word “liquor” as used in West Virginia Code 60-1-1 et seq. does not include or embrace nonintoxicating beer nor any of the beverages, products, mixtures or preparations included within this definition.
(2) “Nonintoxicating craft beer” means any beverage obtained by the natural fermentation of barley, malt, hops, or any other similar product or substitute and containing not less than one half of one percent (½%) by volume and not more than fifteen percent (15%) alcohol by volume or eleven and nine-tenths percent (11.9%) alcohol by weight with no caffeine infusion or any additives masking or altering the alcohol effect.
(WVaC 11-16-3)
(n) “Original package” means any closed or sealed container or receptacle used for holding alcoholic liquor.
(o) “Person” means an individual, firm, partnership, limited partnership, corporation, or voluntary association.
(p) “Powdered alcohol” means an alcohol manufactured in a powder or crystalline form for either direct use or reconstitution as an alcoholic liquor or food. For purposes of this chapter, powdered alcohol excludes any material intended for industrial purposes.
(q) “Public place” means any place, building, or conveyance to which the public has, or is permitted to have access, including restaurants, soda fountains, hotel dining rooms, lobbies and corridors of hotels and any highway, street, lane, park, or place of public resort or amusement: provided, that the term “public place” shall not mean or include any of the above-named places or any portion or portions thereof which qualify and are licensed under the provisions of this article to sell alcoholic liquors for consumption on the premises: provided, however, that the term “public place” shall not mean or include any legally demarcated area designated solely for the consumption of beverages and freshly prepared food that directly connects and adjoins any portion or portions of a premise that qualifies and is licensed under the provisions of this article to sell alcoholic liquors for consumption thereupon: provided further, that the term “public place” shall not include a facility constructed primarily for the use of a Division I, II, or III college or university that is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or its successor, and used as a football, basketball, baseball, soccer, or other Division I, II, or III sports stadium which holds a special license to sell wine pursuant to the provisions of West Virginia Code 60-8-3, in the designated areas of sale and consumption of wine and other restrictions established by that section and the terms of the special license issued thereunder.
(r) “Sale” means any transfer, exchange, or barter in any manner or by any means, for a consideration, and shall include all sales made by a principal, proprietor, agent, or employee.
(s) “Selling” includes solicitation or receipt of orders; possession for sale; and possession with intent to sell.
(t) “Spirits” means any alcoholic beverage obtained by distillation and mixed with potable water and other substances in solution and includes brandy, rum, whiskey, cordials, and gin.
(u) “State liquor store” means a store established and operated by the Commission under this article for the sale of alcoholic liquor in the original package for consumption off the premises.
(v) “Wine” means any alcoholic beverage obtained by the fermentation of the natural content of fruits, or other agricultural products, containing sugar.
(w) “Winery” means an establishment where wine is manufactured or in any way prepared. (WVaC 60-1-5)