North Carolina breweries in counties with local ordinances that restrict alcohol sales could soon be able to sell their drinks on site.
Some cities and counties restrict on-premise sale of alcohol to hotels, motels or restaurants, under what is called a "modified plan." On Tuesday, the House voted in favor of a bill that would allow breweries in these areas to sell the malt beverages they produce to employees and guests.
The bill is restricted to counties where alcoholic beverage sales are already permitted. According to the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, the only completely dry county in the state is Graham, in the western tip of the state.
The bill was sponsored by Rep. Chuck McGrady, a Henderson County Republican. He told the Greensboro News & Record earlier this session that the change in the law was needed to help out a microbrewery that was getting ready to open in his district. Because of a local ordinance, the craft brewer wouldn't be able to sell its own product without the legislation.
The bill passed its final reading in the Senate on Tuesday with 80 in favor and 33 opposed. It now goes to the governor.
It could also bring in a bit of change. The fee for an on-premises malt beverage permit is $400. In 2010, the state ABC Commission collected $14.8 million in permit application fees and renewals for all types of alcoholic beverages sold within the state.
GOP in Wilmington
Republicans will hold their state convention this weekend in Wilmington.
The Wilmington Star News reports that at least 1,200 people will attend the event, which will include speeches by U.S. Rep. Allen West, a decorated war veteran from Florida, and state GOP chairman Robin Hayes.
There also will be an "I Love America" rally with former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, who is expected to challenge Gov. Bev Perdue for her job, and congressional candidate Ilario Pantano. Convention goers will honor former party chairman Tom Fetzer at a banquet and, according to the Star News, take up various resolutions. Among them: urging the United States to withdraw from the United Nations.
John Hinnant, executive director of Wilmington Downtown Inc., also told the paper that he hopes to get some of the visitors down to the riverfront for a concert by the '80s tribute band The Breakfast Club.
Dome can just see the GOP faithful bopping their heads to Simple Minds' "Don't You (Forget About Me)."
Spay/neuter promotion
While the big-picture battles were being fought on various fronts Tuesday, some nuts-and-bolts lawmaking was going on in the trenches. The House agriculture committee approved a bill establishing the Spay/Neuter Advisory Board and donation fund.
The bill, by Rep. Pat McElraft, a Republican from Carteret County, would create an eight-member board whose job it would be to encourage spaying and neutering, and to oversee a donation fund to help counties, cities and nonprofit organizations do the work.
Compiled by staff writers Eden Stiffman, Mary Cornatzer and Craig Jarvis
