Gov. Roy Cooper signed the highly anticipated alcohol bill into law—here, some crucial facts.
It’s official: To-go cocktails are back (!). Gov. Roy Cooper signed the ABC Omnibus bill (aka Senate Bill 527) into law this week, which most notably allows for the sale of to-go and delivery cocktails and wine statewide—including at the airport. The ruling comes after to-go and delivery ’tails were temporarily sanctioned during the pandemic to aid bars and restos.
Additionally, the law permits ABC stores to be open on the Fourth of July, Labor Day and New Year’s Day, but still not Sundays. Nor does it allow for happy hours, as alcohol specials must be on offer all day rather than just for a certain time period.
Here, 10 more facts you should know about the law.
- To-go drinks must be sealed.
- To-go drinks must be sold with food.
- A premixed cocktail cannot exceed 24 fluid ounces or 13% alcohol by volume.
- Alcoholic beverages purchased at the airport must be under 16 ounces and not sold in a glass container.
- ABC stores can now sell gift cards.
- Alcoholic beverages can be sold on railroad trains throughout the state.
- Legality of mobile bars, under the same regulation a standard bar is under (mobile bar owners no longer have to get a single one-time permit)
- Bars and restaurants can now buy liquor from any ABC store in the county, whereas before they could only purchase through whichever store they were attached to.
- Mixed beverage taxes are reduced for restaurants/bars buying RTD cocktails (like, say, High Noons and other premixed drinks containing liquor).
- ABC commission members, staff and local board members, general managers and store managers are now able to sample spirituous products.
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