North Carolina · NC · Food & drink
North Carolina: Where can you buy liquor?
Government-run stores
North Carolina sells liquor only in ABC stores run by local government ABC boards.
Each local ABC board is a government body that operates the stores in its city or county. The stores can sell only products the state ABC Commission has approved, and customers can order online but must pick up in person with ID. Ordinary private shops and grocery stores cannot sell bottled spirits; the law allows only narrow exceptions set out elsewhere in the alcohol chapter.
Conditions
- Online orders must be picked up in person by the buyer, 21 or older
What the law says
Except as provided in Articles 10 and 11 of this Chapter, spirituous liquor may be sold only in ABC stores operated by local boards.
Sources
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 18B-800 Official · ncleg.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission
- Phone
- 919-779-0700
- Website
- abc.nc.gov
How bordering states compare
- Georgia Private licensed storesGeorgia licenses private retail package liquor stores to sell distilled spirits to consumers; the state does not sell liquor.
- South Carolina Private licensed storesSouth Carolina liquor is sold by privately owned retail liquor stores licensed by the Department of Revenue, which buy from licensed wholesalers.
- Tennessee Private licensed storesTennessee sells liquor through privately owned package stores licensed by the Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
- Virginia Government-run storesVirginia sells liquor only in state-run Virginia ABC stores; private stores may sell beer and wine but not spirits.
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