North Carolina’s ABC liquor laws were written in 1937, and they have been stuck there ever since. 

It’s time to modernize our ABC liquor laws. It is time for lawmakers to bring them in line with the realities of today’s economy. 

North Carolina is growing, we are a dynamic, high-energy state and we need our ABC liquor laws to come into the 21st century.

Our ABC system was built for a different era. Today our consumers, businesses, and communities now need a modern framework that supports growth, convenience, and accountability.

Retail sales for liquors and spirits should be legalized so North Carolinians have the same reasonable access and choice they expect in every other part of the marketplace.

Restaurants, bars, hotels, and other hospitality businesses also deserve a modern wholesale distribution system that is efficient, predictable, and responsive to demand.

When these businesses cannot get products quickly and fairly, they lose sales, customers, and competitiveness.

At the same time, North Carolina should streamline the governance of its 171 ABC boards. Centralized oversight would help cut out corruption, cronyism, and the wasteful duplication of services that comes with a fragmented system.

The current approach is outdated and inefficient.

If adults can walk into a grocery store and buy THC-infused drinks but still cannot easily buy spirits under a modern retail system, something is clearly out of balance.

That needs to change.

It is time to modernize North Carolina’s ABC liquor laws.

Joyce Sullivan, chairwoman

Free Our Spirits NC Campaign