A bottle of George T. Stagg, a rare bourbon, at Dot Dot Dot, with the ABC sticker in the center of the label. Kristen Wile/Unpretentious Palate

On Wednesday, Sept. 12, the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission will vote on changing their regulations around the placement of its tax stickers. Once passed, bars and restaurants will have a much prettier liquor display. Current regulation requires that the tax stamps—which are anything but inconspicuous in a different neon color each year—be placed on the front of the bottle, where inspectors can easily see them. The result makes Instagrammers and spirits enthusiasts cringe, as beautiful back bars are marred with neon and rare bourbons get slapped with a sticker right in the middle of the label.

The new requirements, which were passed by the General Assembly, will mandate only that the sticker is placed on the vertical part of the bottle, allowing it to be attached to the back.

The meeting will take place in Raleigh. See the full text of the General Assembly’s law, which mandates the ABC commission to make the change, below.

ALLOW PLACEMENT OF MIXED BEVERAGES TAX STAMP ON ANY VERTICAL PORTION OF A SPIRITUOUS LIQUOR BOTTLE
SECTION 3.(a) Definition. – “Mixed Beverages Tax Stamp Rule” means 14B NCAC 15A .1901 (Mixed Beverages Tax Stamp) for purposes of this section and its implementation.
SECTION 3.(b) Mixed Beverages Tax Stamp Rule. – Until the effective date of the revised permanent rule that the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission is required to adopt pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the Commission shall implement the Mixed Beverages Tax Stamp Rule as provided in subsection (c) of this section.
SECTION 3.(c) Implementation. – Notwithstanding subsection (b) of the Mixed Beverages Tax Stamp Rule, the Commission shall not require the mixed beverages tax stamp to be affixed to the original paper labeling of each container and shall allow the mixed beverages tax stamp to be affixed to any vertical portion of the container.
SECTION 3.(d) The Commission shall adopt a rule to amend the Mixed Beverages Tax Stamp Rule consistent with subsection (c) of this section.
SECTION 3.(e) Sunset. – This section expires when permanent rules adopted as required by subsection (d) of this section become effective.