Editor’s note: This story was updated Wednesday, March 2, to include new banned products. Russian vodka is no longer available in North Carolina. The N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, through an executive order, has pulled the products from its more than 430 stores across the state. Executive Order No. 251, which Gov. Roy Cooper signed...
The way North Carolina buys, stores, and sells liquor is monopolistic and inherently problematic, recently highlighted by issues resulting from the pandemic. Free markets be damned. I’ve written all this, of course. Too many times to count. I’ve also written a book about people making spirits in North Carolina, all the while under the sagging...
The N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission has taken another step in passing rules to expand the size of growlers from 2 to 4 liters. On Wednesday, Feb. 9. the commission held a public hearing on the proposed, permanent Expand Allowable Growler Size rule. The move is part of House Bill 890, an alcohol omnibus bill...
Hank Bauer is the new chairman of the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Commission. He replaces A.D. Zander Guy Jr., who abruptly resigned in September. Terrance Merriweather, deputy commissioner, oversaw daily operations for the agency in the interim. Bauer, a news release says, is former general manager at Empire Distributors, where he also served as the director...
The roots of the N.C. ABC extend to Prohibition, the unintended consequences of which shattered the country. The Alcoholic Beverage Control system, as designed, was meant to control the sale and consumption of liquor. It has done anything but. Rather, this antique system has enabled problem drinkers, even catering to alcoholics needing a large quantity...
Leadership or staff from the company contracted to operate the state’s liquor warehouse and delivery system won’t meet with lawmakers to explain why N.C. ABC stores around the state have so many empty shelves. The state warehouses are stocked with popular products such as Jack Daniel’s and Tito’s vodka, yet those same products aren’t showing...
The staff of the N.C. ABC met Tuesday, Nov. 9, with representatives from 34 local ABC boards across the state to talk about ways to improve the distribution of high-demand, low-supply, allocated spirituous liquor products. “Local ABC boards and their employees are on the front lines of spirituous liquor sales and have direct insight into...
Robbinsville, in the mountains of western North Carolina, will vote Tuesday, Nov. 2, on the sale of beer and wine in the state’s last dry county. The referendum doesn’t include hard liquor, such as whiskey or vodka. It’s the first time the issue has been put to a public vote since Graham County outlawed alcohol...
Lawmakers held a hearing recently focused on the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control system. Their goal was to learn why ABC store shelves are empty and why bars and restaurants are scratching and scraping for typically ubiquitous brands such as Jameson’s and Titos. The ABC blames problems with the global supply chain, but that’s only part...
Spiritous liquor is still in short supply in ABC stores across the state, and supply still isn’t keeping up with demand. Republican lawmakers say things are getting even worse. Rep. Tim Moffitt, R-Henderson, and other members of the N.C. House Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee spent more than two hours Wednesday, Sept. 29, trying to determine...
Terrance Merriweather, deputy commissioner of the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, will oversee daily operations of the agency until the governor appoints a new chairman. The former chairman, A.D. Zander Guy Jr., resigned last week. The ABC confirmed the resignation but offered no additional information. Merriweather will conduct daily business and take any needed emergency...
