RICHMOND, Va. - States are modernizing their alcohol laws to help increase sales, which in turn means more tax revenue, the Associated Press reports. Virginia changed its outdated liquor laws recently; starting in July, customers will be able to taste products at around 330 Alcohol and Beverage Control (ABC) stores.

Maine, New Jersey and Vermont all updated their tasting regulations within the past 12 months, and 43 states have changed alcohol laws to allow stores to sample spirits, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS).

Easting of tasting regulations are an essential ingredient of a larger movement to update state liquor laws to be more customer-friendly and to generate funds for states without increasing taxes or slashing initiatives. These changes give consumers more convenience, businesses more options and states more money, said Ben Jenkins, DISCUS spokesman.

"These laws no longer make sense in today??s economy," he said. "More and more, 76 years after the repeal of Prohibition, states are knocking down those bans to make their alcohol laws more efficient and modern."

Alcoholic drinks bring in around $380 billion in the United States, around 30 percent of that from liquor, according to DISCUS. Alcohol beverages also have high taxes, generating $40 billion in direct and indirect funds for state and municipalities.

Tastings translate into more sales. "We find tastings to be a very important tool that enables consumers to try premium spirits products and often leads them to purchase them," said Jack Shea, vice president of corporate communications for Pernod Ricard USA, which makes Absolut vodka and Malibu rum.