G.S. ch. 18B, art. 4
G.S. ch. 18B, art. 4
in effectG.S. 18B-401 Manner of transportation.
§ 18B-401. Manner of transportation.
(a) Opened Containers. - Except as authorized by a common carrier vehicle permit under G.S. 18B-1001(23), it shall be unlawful for a person to transport fortified wine or spirituous liquor in the passenger area of a motor vehicle in other than the manufacturer's unopened original container. It shall be unlawful for a person who is driving a motor vehicle on a highway or public vehicular area to consume in the passenger area of that vehicle any malt beverage or unfortified wine. Violation of this subsection shall constitute a Class 3 misdemeanor.
(b) Taxis. - It shall be unlawful for a person operating a for-hire passenger vehicle as defined in G.S. 20-4.01(27)f., to transport fortified wine or spirituous liquor unless the vehicle is transporting a paying passenger who owns the alcoholic beverage being transported. A violation of this subsection shall not be grounds for suspension of the driver's license for illegal transportation of intoxicating liquors under G.S. 20-16(a)(8).
(c) Definitions. - The definitions in Chapter 20 of the General Statutes apply in interpreting this section. If the seal on a container of alcoholic beverages has been broken, it is opened within the meaning of this section. For purposes of this section, "passenger area of a motor vehicle" means the area designed to seat the driver and passengers and any area within the reach of a seated driver or passenger, including the glove compartment. In the case of a station wagon, hatchback or similar vehicle, the area behind the last upright back seat shall not be considered part of the passenger area. (1923, c. 1, s. 25; C.S., s. 3411(y); 1937, c. 49, ss. 14, 16; c. 411; 1967, c. 222, ss. 1, 7; c. 1256, s. 3; 1969, c. 598, ss. 2, 3; c. 1018; 1971, c. 872, s. 1; 1977, c. 176, s. 1; c. 586; 1979, c. 607, s. 1; 1981, c. 412, s. 2; c. 747, s. 45; 1983, c. 435, s. 7; 1989, c. 553, s. 3; 1993, c. 508, s. 4; c. 539, s. 312; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2017-102, s. 5.2(b); 2021-150, s. 28.3; 2022-44, s. 3(d).)
G.S. 18B-402 (Repealed) Alcoholic beverages purchased out-of-State. (1923, c. 1, s. 25; C.S., s. 3411(y); 1937, c. 49, ss. 14, 16; c. 411; 1967, c. 222, ss. 1, 7; c. 1256, s. 3; 1969, c. 598, ss. 2, 3; c. 1018; 1971, c. 872, s. 1; 1977, c. 176, s. 1; c. 586; 1979, c. 607, s. 1; 1981, c. 412, s. 2; 1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1262, s. 5; repealed by 2022-44, s. 3(e), effective July 7, 2022.)
G.S. 18B-403 (Repealed) Purchase-transportation permit. (1969, c. 617, s. 1; 1971, c. 872, s. 1; 1973, c. 94; c. 819, s. 1; 1975, ss. 1-4; 1977, c. 176, ss. 1, 2, 4; 1979, c. 19, ss. 3, 4; c. 286, s. 1; c. 445, ss. 1, 3; c. 1076, ss. 1, 2, 3; 1981, c. 412, s. 2; 1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1262, ss. 6-8; 1983, c. 457, s. 1; 2019-182, ss. 5(a), 23(b); repealed by 2022-44, s. 3(f), effective July 7, 2022.)
G.S. 18B-403.1 Purchase-transportation permit for keg or kegs of malt beverages.
§ 18B-403.1. Purchase-transportation permit for keg or kegs of malt beverages.
(a) Purchase-Transportation. - A person who is not a permittee may purchase and transport for off-premises consumption a keg or kegs as defined in G.S. 18B-101(7c) after obtaining a purchase-transportation permit. Failure to obtain a purchase-transportation permit according to this section is a violation of G.S. 18B-303(b).
(b) Issuance. - A person holding a permit (permittee) pursuant to G.S. 18B-1001(2) shall issue a purchase-transportation permit for a keg or kegs of malt beverage to a purchaser. A copy of the purchase-transportation permit shall be maintained by the permittee for 90 days. Upon request by any person, the permittee shall maintain the permit for a requested period in excess of 90 days.
(c) Form. - A purchase-transportation permit shall be issued on a printed form adopted and provided by the Commission. The Commission shall adopt rules specifying the content of the permit form.
(d) Restrictions on Permit. - A purchase may be made only from the store named on the permit. One copy of the permit shall be kept by the purchaser and one by the permittee from whom the purchase is made. The purchaser shall display his copy of the permit to any law enforcement officer upon request.
(e) Violation. - The first violation of this section by a permittee shall result in a warning to the permittee. (2006-253, s. 3.1; 2010-122, s. 1.)
G.S. 18B-404 Additional provisions for purchase and transportation by mixed beverage permittees.
§ 18B-404. Additional provisions for purchase and transportation by mixed beverage permittees.
(a), (b) Repealed by Session Laws 2022-44, s. 3(h), effective July 7, 2022.
(c) Designated Store. - A mixed beverage permittee may purchase spirituous liquor from an ABC store that is designated as a mixed beverage ABC store operated by any local board operating in the same county as the permittee.
(d) Repealed by Session Laws 2022-44, s. 3(h), effective July 7, 2022.
(e) Electronic Payment. - A local board shall accept electronic payments for any spirituous liquor purchased by a mixed beverages permittee. A local board may not charge a fee for accepting electronic payments under this subsection. For purposes of this subsection, the term "electronic payment" means payment by debit card or by electronic funds transfer as defined in G.S. 105-228.90, but does not include payment by charge card or credit card.
(f) [Delivery Service. -] A local board shall offer delivery service to mixed beverage permittees. In providing delivery of purchased products to mixed beverage permittees, the local board may use its employees or contract with one or more independent contractors and may charge a fee to the permittee. A local board in a Tier 1 or Tier 2 county, as defined in G.S. 143B-472.35(a2)(18), may request an exemption to this requirement from the ABC Commission. The Commission shall grant the request if the local board can show evidence of unreasonable hardship or difficulty incurred by implementing delivery service. (1981, c. 412, s. 2; c. 747, ss. 46, 47; 1987, c. 136, s. 3; 1991, c. 459, s. 10; c. 565, ss. 5, 7; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 920, s. 2; 1999-462, s. 4; 2003-218, s. 3; 2019-182, s. 17(a); 2021-150, s. 30.1; 2022-44, s. 3(h); 2024-41, s. 6(a).)
G.S. 18B-405 (Repealed) Transportation by permittee. (1923, c. 1, s. 15; C.S., s. 3411(o); 1939, c. 158, s. 503; 1971, c. 872, s. 1; 1975, c. 411, s. 7; 1977, c. 70, s. 20; c. 176, s. 7; 1979, c. 286, s. 5; 1981, c. 412, s. 2; 1987, c. 136, s. 4; repealed by 2022-44, s. 3(i), effective July 7, 2022.)
G.S. 18B-406 (Repealed) Unlawful transportation. (1981, c. 412, s. 2; repealed by 2022-44, s. 3(j), effective July 7, 2022.)
Source: North Carolina General Assembly (ncleg.gov)URL: https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByChapter/Chapter_18B.htmlFetched: 10/19/2026