How spirituous liquor tastings work in North Carolina's control-state ABC system—statewide statute, extra ABC-store limits, and local board process. Last updated August 22, 2026.
Last updated August 22, 2026. This page is a practical summary for brands and suppliers, not legal advice. Rules can change, and local boards add their own written conditions. Confirm against the current statute, administrative code, and the local board before an event.
Spirituous liquor is sold at retail only through ABC stores operated by local ABC boards under the North Carolina ABC Commission. There are no private liquor stores. In-store tastings are allowed only where the local board has approved them, under a spirituous liquor special event permit.
That is why a tasting program is county work: Wake, Mecklenburg, and Pitt are three boards, three forms, and three calendars. DR Promotions is built around that system—not around sending generic event staff to a store.
G.S. 18B-1114.7 — spirituous liquor special event permit, including extra ABC store limits in subsection (c).
14B NCAC 15C .1307 — local boards set stores and times; written requests are first-come, first-served.
Statewide tasting rules still apply. ABC stores add a tighter daily cap, a shorter clock, and a ban on public advertising.
Local boards may allow tastings only in that window, on a day the store may sell liquor, for no more than three hours. G.S. 18B-1114.7(c)(2).
One 0.25-ounce sample of any product. In an ABC store the consumer's daily total cannot exceed one-half ounce. G.S. 18B-1114.7(b)(3) and (c)(4).
No more than three tastings per store per calendar week, and no more than two permit holders at the same time. G.S. 18B-1114.7(c)(3).
Only the permit holder or an authorized agent 21 or older. ABC store employees do not conduct the tasting. Age must be verified; visibly intoxicated consumers cannot be served.
Tasting liquor is purchased from an ABC store at Commission price and leftover product leaves with the permit holder. Written notice to the Commission is due at least 48 hours before the event.
Boards may post notice in their system. Permit holders may give POS materials and advertising specialties, but cannot sell branded merchandise in the store or advertise the tasting to the public.
14B NCAC 15C .1307 lets each board decide whether tastings happen, in which stores, and on which dates. Written requests for a set slot are first-come, first-served. Boards may require a signed agreement to their extra conditions.
| ABC board | Primary market |
|---|---|
| Wake County ABC | Raleigh, Cary |
| Mecklenburg County ABC | Charlotte |
| Durham County ABC | Durham |
| Greensboro ABC | Greensboro |
| High Point ABC | High Point |
| Chatham County ABC | Pittsboro / Chatham |
| Moore County ABC | Southern Pines / Pinehurst |
| Pitt County ABC | Greenville |
| Carteret County ABC | Morehead City / Crystal Coast |
| Wayne County ABC | Goldsboro |
| Statesville ABC | Statesville |
| Wilkesboro ABC | Wilkesboro |
DR Promotions maintains board-specific tasting-application templates for the boards above and runs programs in all 100 North Carolina counties. Other boards use their own forms and calendars; we file those too.
Get answers to common questions about our spirits promotion and event management services.
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