A new omnibus bill put forth in the Senate proposes more changes to the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission, which oversees the state's wholesale of spirits.

More than a dozen items are addressed concerning ABC operations in Senate Bill 490. One that will resonate most with consumers involves ABC stores being allowed to open on Sunday, New Year's Day, July 4 and Labor Day.

Local authority boards which consist of more than 160 statewide overseeing more than 400 stores will be able to vote on an ordinance for added hours should the bill pass. Stores would not open on Sunday until after noon, the legislation stipulates.

The new bill also puts forth the option for ABC permittees restaurant and bar owners to purchase alcohol from any store within the county. In Wilmington, the entrepreneurs and permit holders are assigned to the LBD (liquor-by-the-drink) distribution facility at 6009 Market St.

https://portcitydaily.com/drinkeries/2023/04/06/sunday-hours-and-open-some-holidays-omnibus-bill-proposes-more-abc-changes/

They need to rework the whole system and get rid of the 160 local boards, which are a big source of shady dealings in the bourbon community. I'm ambivalent about selling on Sundays, but since they passed the law last year or two that allows distilleries to sell direct to consumers seven days a week, it doesn't make much sense to keep the stores from doing the same.

wilmwolf80 said:

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They need to rework the whole system and get rid of the 160 local boards, which are a big source of shady dealings in the bourbon community. I'm ambivalent about selling on Sundays, but since they passed the law last year or two that allows distilleries to sell direct to consumers seven days a week, it doesn't make much sense to keep the stores from doing the same.

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HB91 failed in 2019
https://www.cbs17.com/news/nc-house-bill-91-would-scrap-abc-stores-permit-retail-and-sunday-liquor-sales/

wilmwolf80 said:

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They need to rework the whole system and get rid of the 160 local boards, which are a big source of shady dealings in the bourbon community. I'm ambivalent about selling on Sundays, but since they passed the law last year or two that allows distilleries to sell direct to consumers seven days a week, it doesn't make much sense to keep the stores from doing the same.

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There is a provision in the bill on how ABC boards can distribute allocated items. There are only 17 states that have total State run distribution of spirituous liquor and the State of NC is in the top 5 of dollars per gallon in the US. Of course our taxes are high but there have been studies done about privatization. I've seen a few and it can be done but the loss of revenue is a reality. Here is a good article that explains it.

https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2019/04/04/nc-liquor-privatization-convenience-higher-costs-health-issues/3237747002/

I really don't disagree with you on the problems with allocated products but I do think it has gotten better especially in the more populated areas.

My biggest issue with allocation is that there isn't any standardized way for it to be handled across the state. Some local boards do it right with transparent raffles, some (like mine) have mysterious lists, some just give them to people they know, some have been able to game the warehouse system to take things from other boards. I just think there needs to be a state wide system for dealing with it. That would make most consumers feel much better about the process.

wilmwolf80 said:

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My biggest issue with allocation is that there isn't any standardized way for it to be handled across the state. Some local boards do it right with transparent raffles, some (like mine) have mysterious lists, some just give them to people they know, some have been able to game the warehouse system to take things from other boards. I just think there needs to be a state wide system for dealing with it. That would make most consumers feel much better about the process.

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Bingo.

The ABC agency is the biggest waste of state money. It should be dissolved completely

FlossyDFlynt said:

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The ABC agency is the biggest waste of state money. It should be dissolved completely

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Local ABC Boards are established and operated with no State funds.

wilmwolf80 said:

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My biggest issue with allocation is that there isn't any standardized way for it to be handled across the state. Some local boards do it right with transparent raffles, some (like mine) have mysterious lists, some just give them to people they know, some have been able to game the warehouse system to take things from other boards. I just think there needs to be a state wide system for dealing with it. That would make most consumers feel much better about the process.

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I do not disagree with this but each ABC board does operate separately from each other. Just to prove your point, Youngsville got 25 cases of Makers Mark BEP(delicious BTW) because they ordered that much from the warehouse. Wake County will be lucky to see that amount in the whole county. Why does Youngsville get that much and Wake gets less? Doesn't make sense to me. Pitt county had over 600 allocated bottles in their holiday lottery 2 years ago but Wake had 200….. Just weird.

Heard a story of a guy around me that was able to score the entire collection of BTAC each year since 2015 except last year he wasn't able to get Eagle17.

It has been impossible to find just one of those bottles a year much less the entire line up.

SexualChocolate said:

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wilmwolf80 said:

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My biggest issue with allocation is that there isn't any standardized way for it to be handled across the state. Some local boards do it right with transparent raffles, some (like mine) have mysterious lists, some just give them to people they know, some have been able to game the warehouse system to take things from other boards. I just think there needs to be a state wide system for dealing with it. That would make most consumers feel much better about the process.

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I do not disagree with this but each ABC board does operate separately from each other. Just to prove your point, Youngsville got 25 cases of Makers Mark BEP(delicious BTW) because they ordered that much from the warehouse. Wake County will be lucky to see that amount in the whole county. Why does Youngsville get that much and Wake gets less? Doesn't make sense to me. Pitt county had over 600 allocated bottles in their holiday lottery 2 years ago but Wake had 200….. Just weird.

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Right, I don't understand the point of having a state board and all the individual boards, it's unnecessarily complicated. There are some places where the whole local "board" is one store, and a few miles down the road, there's another board. Just lends itself to mismanagement to me.

But, as a country, we're still operating under the corrupt, inefficient three tiered distribution system enacted almost a hundred years ago post prohibition, so the whole thing needs an overhaul top to bottom IMO.

Just an FYI... if you are "in" with the local ABC board you can get damn near any bourbon you want.

FACT.

Not saying it's fair... but fair is where you go to eat fried bread.

Now... that being said... I have it on good accord that if you are "in" you can get Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, Blanton's (even the special releases) and pretty much any other "rare" bourbon. Perks of being on the ABC Board.

I'm not saying it's a crooked run operation because I have benefited from it more than once. But there is a real problem when you can't get a bottle of Buffalo Trace in NC and on my travels I see shelves at Walgreen's lined with every size from a pint to a half gallon on a regular basis.

What BBW says is true, I have a buddy who just retired from his position on a local ABC board. His collection of rare and expensive bourbons is off the chart, and one that he probably paid (maybe) 10 cents on the dollar. Rank does indeed have its privileges, especially in this instance.

CLA327 said:

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What BBW says is true, I have a buddy who just retired from his position on a local ABC board. His collection of rare and expensive bourbons is off the chart, and one that he probably paid (maybe) 10 cents on the dollar. Rank does indeed have its privileges, especially in this instance.

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I've heard these stories. I do think it happens. How much is anyone's guess. Wilm is correct about the 3 tier system in that it was created after prohibition to make sure you got legitimate liquor. There were numerous deaths of ethanol poisoning and the State wanted to protect the public. This has changed but the tone is now to protect the youth from alcohol.

We make a ton of money from alcohol sales and I don't see it changing anytime soon.

SexualChocolate said:

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FlossyDFlynt said:

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The ABC agency is the biggest waste of state money. It should be dissolved completely

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Local ABC Boards are established and operated with no State funds.

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The state has no business regulating the supply chain of liquor at this point. Its an antiquated law from prohibition and should be repealed. The only reason it isnt is too many people have their hands in the cookie jar

FlossyDFlynt said:

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SexualChocolate said:

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FlossyDFlynt said:

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The ABC agency is the biggest waste of state money. It should be dissolved completely

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Local ABC Boards are established and operated with no State funds.

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The state has no business regulating the supply chain of liquor at this point. Its an antiquated law from prohibition and should be repealed. The only reason it isnt is too many people have their hands in the cookie jar

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I don't disagree but I thought I would catch hell from my response to you because technically it is State funds. The tax funds the running of ABC but the budget does not allocate funds yearly. Great discussion nonetheless. Cheers to the weekend! Go Pack!

SexualChocolate said:

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FlossyDFlynt said:

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SexualChocolate said:

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FlossyDFlynt said:

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The ABC agency is the biggest waste of state money. It should be dissolved completely

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Local ABC Boards are established and operated with no State funds.

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The state has no business regulating the supply chain of liquor at this point. Its an antiquated law from prohibition and should be repealed. The only reason it isnt is too many people have their hands in the cookie jar

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I don't disagree but I thought I would catch hell from my response to you because technically it is State funds. The tax funds the running of ABC but the budget does not allocate funds yearly. Great discussion nonetheless. Cheers to the weekend! Go Pack!

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Nah, Im not like that. I just think the state/local/whatever government has no business in the alcohol distribution business, that's all. Its a barrier to market that doesnt need to exist.

Cheers