For more than 90 years, the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) system has been part of life in communities across the state. But you may not know what happens behind the shelves – and how the system helps support North Carolina.
Article sponsored by North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control.
The ABC System Continues to Evolve
What began in 1935 has now grown into hundreds of stores across the state, with more products, more locations and more modern spaces.
While the system looks different than it did in its early days, its focus remains the same: safety, fairness and giving back.
A Portion of ABC Revenue Supports North Carolina Communities
When you buy a bottle at an ABC store, a portion of the revenue generated from that sale is distributed to state and local programs across North Carolina.
That funding helps support local governments, law enforcement, schools, libraries, alcohol education and treatment programs, and other public services that keep North Carolina strong.
It Doesn’t Cost Taxpayers a Thing
Here’s another fact North Carolinians may not know: The ABC system is self-sustaining. It’s funded entirely through spirituous liquor sales, not tax dollars.
The system funds its own operations through those sales, while the revenue it generates helps support communities across North Carolina.
The Price Is the Price – Wherever You Shop
To prevent price gouging, state law requires the retail price of spirits sold in ABC stores to be uniform throughout North Carolina, with limited exceptions.
That means prices aren’t set store-by-store, and a bottle isn’t simply more expensive because you happen to live in one town instead of another.
There’s a Little Bit of North Carolina in Those Bottles
North Carolina is home to distilleries producing spirits right here in the state – from bourbon and whiskey to gin, rum and moonshine. ABC stores make room on their shelves to highlight North Carolina distilleries, giving shoppers a chance to discover spirits made close to home.
So the next time you walk into your local ABC store, you might see it a little differently. It’s not just a place to pick up a bottle. It’s part of a statewide system that has evolved with North Carolina – and continues to put a little back into the communities it serves.
