June 22, 2026

The slow change at ABC just sped up a little

Reform bill close to passage

If signed into law, NC House Bill 198 would allow a bar or restaurant customer to order two alcohol beverage at once. TM Petaccis/UP

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by TM Petaccia

The wheels of law turn very slowly. Especially in North Carolina, and particularly as it concerns alcohol. But they do turn. A couple of weeks ago, we published a piece about current restaurant/food & beverage related legislation being considered by the NC legislature. Among other things, there were three separate pieces that addressed how liquor is sold and managed in this state.

The most radical, Senate Bill 938, would eliminate the current ABC system in favor of independent retailers. As you might guess, so far, that’s going nowhere. Then there’s House Bill 921, the “ABC & Gaming Omnibus Bill,” which proposes a number of sweeping changes. There has been little movement here as well, because a watered down version of that bill, House Bill 198, the “ABC Omnibus Bill of 2026,” has garnered favor and seems to be on the fast track to becoming law. It passed the N.C. House, then the Senate passed it with one minor amendment that has to go back to the House for final approval, then onto to governor’s desk for signature.

Although not as sweeping as the other two bills, HB 198 does make some significant changes:

Customers would now be able to order two drinks at a time
Those in designated social districts would be allowed to carry mixed drinks into businesses located within the districts even if the businesses themselves do not hold alcohol permits
Restaurants and bars could purchase spirits from outside their assigned local ABC board if certain products are unavailable locally
Makes the sale of alcohol-infused whipped cream canisters legal
Expands how stadiums and arenas can sell alcohol via more distributed kiosks and portable stands instead of centralizing alcohol purchases through designated concession counters
Other regulatory, budget, and procedural changes

It’s not the sweeping changes we see in the other bills, such as ABC Sunday hours, grocery/convenience store sales of canned spirit-based cocktails, CBD beverage guidelines, and the big one, private liquor sales, but it’s a start.

As North Carolina, and Charlotte in particular, become more recognized as a food & beverage destination, the state’s long-standing alcohol laws, much of them rooted in post-Prohibition thinking, continue to remain out of step with 21st century realities.

While our state may not be sprinting toward alcohol reform, at least it has recognized it needs to get out of the starting blocks.