Virginia breaks record for liquor sales for the 19th time

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Liquor sales in Virginia continue to break records.

The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control reported Thursday that liquor sales for the fiscal year that ended June 30 set a record. In fact, it was the 19th straight record-breaking year.

The ABC, which operates state-owned liquor stores, reported sales of $940 million and profits of $171 million. That's an increase of nearly 5 percent in sales and nearly 4 percent in profits from the previous year.

The agency attributes the sales increase to opening nine new stores across the state.

The top sellers were: Hennessy cognac, followed by Jack Daniel's whiskey and Tito's Handmade domestic vodka. Hennessy sales were up by a third over the previous year.

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