Gov. Cooper Expected to Sign Bill Easing Regulations on Distilleries

MOUNT PLEASANT, N.C. – If you love hanging out at breweries or wineries, there will soon be a new option for people who like liquor.

Distilleries like Southern Grace in Mount Pleasant will soon be able to serve mixed drinks. Right now, they focus on giving tours and can only sell five bottlers, per year, per person.

“Oh it’s definitely going to mean an increase in tourism for us, an increase in revenue,” says Southern Grace tourism director Emily Burkhart.

Governor Roy Cooper toured the distillery on Wednesday.

“Having a place like this can help a small town in a rural community thrive and we need to do what we can to try to help them,” Cooper says.

The Governor says loosening regulations is a good thing for the economy.

“This area was hit hard when textile manufacturing went offshore. And this area had to reinvent itself,” Cooper says.

The new law also allows liquor tasting at local ABC stores, including liquors from local distilleries.

There has been some opposition to the bill, primarily from people who worry it could lead to the privatization of ABC stores. It’s something lawmakers in Raleigh have been talking about.

North Carolina is one of 17 states where liquor sales are run by the state.