Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

The Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) System in North Carolina was designed to support public health & safety objectives through the control of spiritous liquor while providing valuable community investments to local governments. 

The ABC Commission issues alcohol permits, develops liquor administrative codes, determines product selections and establishes uniform prices throughout the state.

ABC Boards oversee the sale and purchase of liquor within their jurisdiction, prevent the sale of alcoholic beverages to individuals under 21 years of age, and manage ABC store operations. For more information on the history of the ABC System, please view our history page.

To learn more about New Hanover County ABC’s community investments, view our impact page.

How are ABC Boards funded?

All ABC Board operations are funded solely by liquor sales. ABC Boards are not funded by state or local government. In fact, ABC boards distribute profits to the general funds of State and local governments, reducing tax burden on NC residents.

LBD stands for “Liquor by the Drink.” LBD outlets are a place for restaurants, bars, and clubs to purchase their liquor in large quantities. LBD outlets are not open to the public.

For proper age and payment validation, New Hanover County ABC accepts:

  • A valid U.S. State Driver’s License
  • A valid ID card issued by any state agency of any U.S. state authorized to issue official special identification cards
  • A valid passport booklet

Expired forms of identification or paper ID’s cannot be used to purchase liquor in New Hanover County. Regardless of age, ABC Store employees will always ask for ID when a customer is paying with a payment card or via contactless payment.

Yes! Liquor tastings are a great way to discover new items or learn more about items you already love.

Our tasting events generally take place Thursdays through Saturdays. For a full list of tasting events, view our tasting schedule.

Currently, ABC stores are prohibited from being open on Sundays.

Beer and wine sales at other establishments are prohibited Monday-Saturday 2am-7am, and Sundays before 10AM.

View our store hours here.

Yes! Empty boxes are available free of charge. Visit any New Hanover County ABC Store and ask an employee for assistance.

According to North Carolina Department of Public Safety, it is illegal to operate a vehicle with a BAC of 0.08 or higher OR if visibly impaired. The BAC limit is 0.04 while driving a commercial motor vehicle. For drivers under 21 years of age, North Carolina has zero tolerance for any BAC above 0.00.

The CDC has an informative page that addresses a number of topics related to drinking patterns as well as the health effects of drinking.

Talk it Out NC is an organization dedicated to preventing underage drinking through open and honest conversations between youth and trusted adults.

If you think you may be struggling with addiction, visit our recovery resources page for low-barrier recovery options in New Hanover County.

Information about permit options can be found on our alcohol permits page.

You can reach out any time via our contact page.

For questions related to our grant programs, please refer to our FAQ for Grantseekers.