How 2 bills moving through state legislature could change liquor laws in NC
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- House ABC Committee voted to send HB 291 to the House Finance Committee.
- The bill was proposed to cap canned cocktails sold in grocery stores at 9.9% ABV.
- Sen. Moffitt added an amendment to HB 198 including a $310M loan and 24 game nights.
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Last week, I wrote that canned cocktails, such as High Noon or Cutwater premixed beverages, could one day be sold in grocery stories in North Carolina — just as beer and wine are sold. Those types of beverages now are only available in Alcoholic Beverage Control stores, which are operated by local ABC boards.
Some industry members are worried the change could push the state closer to complete privatization of liquor. Others said the products are in high demand for both customers and hospitality businesses, who currently find purchasing those products burdensome.
The state House ABC Committee met on Tuesday and discussed several changes to the bill, HB 291. The committee voted to send the bill to the House’s Finance Committee.
The first version of the bill would have capped canned cocktails on grocery store shelves at an alcohol by volume of 13%. One of the bill’s primary sponsors, Rep. Ray Pickett, said on Tuesday that the bill was modified to a 9.9% ABV maximum.
Sunday sales and mixed drink license holders
Besides ready-to-drink beverages, the bill also touched on ABC store sales on Sunday and where businesses with a mixed beverage license are able to purchase products.
Currently, state law prohibits ABC stores from selling liquor on Sundays. Pickett, a Republican who represents three northwest counties, last week discussed a provision in the bill that would have allowed local ABC boards to pass an ordinance allowing local stores to sell liquor on Sundays.
On Tuesday, Pickett said that section was taken out of the bill completely.
State law also requires that mixed beverage license holders purchase products from a designated ABC store within the county they operate. The original version of the bill would have modified that law to allow those businesses to buy from any ABC store in the state.
Pickett on Tuesday said that, as a “compromise between many stakeholders,” the new version of the bill would set up a waiver system for businesses. If a business could not get the type or brand it needed at its designated ABC store, then the store would issue a waiver good for 90 days for the businesses to go to any other ABC store.
Senate amendment potential
Sen. Tim Moffitt, a Hendersonville Republican, on Thursday in the Senate Commerce and Insurance Committee introduced an amendment to a failed House bill from last year also trying to change some liquor control laws.
The bill, HB 198, was referred to the Senate’s Rules Committee in March 2025.
Moffitt’s amendment would make several changes, including allowing the ABC Commission, with Gov. Josh Stein’s approval, to secure up to a $310 million loan to build a new “automated” warehouse. The amendment also touches on similar goals to Pickett’s bill, such as allowing ABC permit holders to purchase spirits from ABC stores in adjacent counties and the number of game nights a year that nonprofit organizations are allowed to host.
Under current law, nonprofit organizations can only hold “game nights” four times per year. The game nights often function as fundraisers for the nonprofits.
Moffitt’s amendment would increase that to 24 times per year.
“Now, some folks that are in opposition to this are suggesting that we’re spreading casinos throughout the entire state,” he said during the Thursday committee meeting. “But what this does is it allows nonprofits to go back to the traditional way of raising money versus coming to us and asking us for money.”
The bill with Moffitt’s amendment was sent to the Rules Committee.
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Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!
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This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 6:00 AM with the headline "How 2 bills moving through state legislature could change liquor laws in NC."
