(Columbus) -- Rae Ann Estep, Superintendent of the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Liquor Control, announced that a new contract liquor agency opened in West Jefferson on August 25, 1999, at The Main Stop Food Mart, 97 E. Main St.

Owners Raj B. Varma and Pushpa Varma of Varma, Inc., report that the hours of sale for spirituous liquor at the new agency will be from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

"West Jefferson has been without an agency outlet since the fall of 1997, therefore, we're very pleased to once again provide convenient service for area residents with the opening of this new agency," Superintendent Estep stated.

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The Division of Liquor Control is responsible for controlling the manufacture, distribution and sale of all alcoholic beverages in the state. The division sells spirituous liquor through nearly 400 private, contract liquor agencies in the state. Liquor sales and tax revenues are returned to the state's General Revenue Fund, and are also earmarked for a number of other state services including the retirement of economic development bonds and state liquor enforcement. Regulatory functions handled by the division include the issuance of permits to the state's approximately 24,000 privately owned and operated manufacturers, distributors and retailers of alcoholic beverages, and industry compliance of the laws relating to the manufacture, importation and distribution of beer, wine and mixed beverages containing less than 21 percent alcohol by volume in Ohio.

As one of the state's chief regulatory agencies, the Department of Commerce is responsible for numerous regulatory functions carried out by its other divisions of Financial Institutions, Securities, Real Estate, Unclaimed Funds, Industrial Compliance, and State Fire Marshal. The department's internet address is www.com.state.oh.us