Beginning in May 2016, the North Carolina ABC Commission will hold a series of “informal chat sessions” to discuss needed revisions to the ABC regulations. These sessions are not the public hearings that are required during the formal rule-making process, but are informal meetings being held so that breweries, wineries, wholesalers, beer festival promoters, retailers, industry members, and other interested persons can submit comments, ideas, and suggested changes to the North Carolina ABC regulations.
The schedule of meetings and rules to be discussed at each meeting are as follows:
Friday, May 6, 2016 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm – discussion of 15A .0100-.1000. (includes rule-making, declaratory rulings, notices of alleged violations/hearings, and local ABC board regulations)
Monday, May 16, 2016 – 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm – discussion of 15A .1100-.2000 (includes local ABC boards, approval of new ABC stores, storage of liquor in the Commission warehouse, purchases of alcohol by local ABC boards, pricing of liquor and markups, storage of liquor in warehouses, sales of liquor in ABC stores, shelf management in ABC stores, purchase transportation permits, mixed beverage tax stamps, and local ABC board training)
Friday, June 3, 2016 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm – discussion of 15B .0100-.0800 (Important for Retailers/Taprooms - includes definitions such as “original container” and “premises,” retail permit applications, site managers, permit requirements for restaurants, hotels, and private clubs, changes in ownership, and various rules affecting retailers including clearing tables, employee age requirements, gambling, supervision of premises, happy hours, flights, private club membership requirements, dispensing equipment, pre-mixing drinks, handling and storage of liquor by retail permittees, record-keeping, and sports clubs)
Monday, June 20, 2016 – 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm – discussion of 15B .0900-.1100 (Important for Retailers/Taprooms - includes other regulations affecting retailers – beer and wine tastings, samples, cooperative advertising, point of sale advertising, prohibited statements in advertising and on labels, coupons, loyalty cards, discounts, rebates, exterior sign advertising, billboards, advertising of liquor, refund offers, and administrative fines and suspensions)
Friday, July 8, 2016 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm – discussion of 15C .0100-.0400 (Important for Breweries/Wineries/Industry Members - includes regulations affecting industry members, including definitions of “brand” and “industry member,” industry member application procedures, beer, wine, and liquor product approvals, brand transfers, packaging and labeling of beer and wine, label contents of beer and wine, growlers, delivery of wine, and wine containers)
Monday, July 18, 2016 – 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm – discussion of 15C .0500-.1200 (Important for Breweries/Wineries/Industry Members/Beer Festival Promoters - industry member record-keeping, sales and deliveries of malt beverages and wine, wholesaler practices, refusal to sell, pricing, servicing accounts, retailer/industry member relationships including point of sale advertising, prizes, and promotions, quantity discounts, exclusive outlets/inducements/tied house prohibitions, commercial bribery, consignment sales, prohibited and accepted trade practices, things of value, transactions with government and special one-time permittees, beer and wine festivals, tournaments, contests, sweepstakes, promotions, distiller representative regulations, air carriers, and fuel alcohol)
Friday, August 5, 2016 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm – discussion of 15A (catch-all discussion of regulations affecting organization rules, policies, and procedures)
Monday, August 15, 2016 – 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm – discussion of 15B (catch-all discussion of regulations affecting retailers and advertising)
Friday, September 9, 2016 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm – discussion of 15C (catch-all discussion of regulations affecting industry members and retail/industry member relationships)
Monday, September 19, 2016 – open (any other issues for discussion)