FAQ - OMEGA - West Virginia Oil Marketers & Grocers Association

Selling restricted products - tobacco, alcohol and lottery - to individuals under age is illegal in West Virginia. State and federal law prohibits selling tobacco and lottery products to anyone under age 18. An individual must be 21 to purchase alcohol.

Bottle Bill

We oppose this legislation. Forced deposits do little to help the environment and essentially impose a hidden, regressive tax on consumers. Forced deposits are
costly to operate and administer and introduce a significant health and safety risk. OMEGA believes that comprehensive recycling programs are better investments and comprehensive
litter control outperforms forced deposits.

OMEGA members do a great job managing their businesses. However, as with all major industries, OMEGA members receive oversight by many city, county, state and federal regulatory agencies. In addition to policing ourselves, listed below are just some of the state agencies which oversee and regulate member operations:

Federal and state taxes account for one-fifth, or approximately 15 percent, of the cost of a gallon of gasoline in West Virginia. We pay 50.2 cents in state and federal taxes on every gallon of gasoline we purchase.

In those border states where the gas tax is lower, West Virginia retailers are negatively impacted. Customers will drive across the state line to purchase lower cost fuel. In West Virginia, all fuel taxes go to the Department of Highways to fund state road projects. Through the fuel tax, West Virginia consumers provided nearly $434.9 million in 2015.

OMEGA members are local entrepreneurs employing thousands of West Virginians. Profits from OMEGA businesses stay in the community and strengthen the state economy.

While large national department stores and national chain grocery stores - like Wal-Mart and Kroger - are critical to West Virginia, they can, and do, siphon customers from our state's independent local businesses. In many cases, as you've probably witnessed, even causing community groceries and other retailers to close. In contrast, less than 3 percent of all convenience stores are owned and operated by one of the major oil companies.