Burlington Reporter

The North Carolina Association of ABC Boards and state Sen. Rick Gunn (R-Alamance) asked for a program to allow restaurants and bars to sell alcohol back to government-sponsored stores during the coronavirus pandemic. 

“This program would help struggling bar and restaurant owners raise needed cash to withstand the economic shutdown. This is the hardest hit sector in our economy, and this is a simple step we can take now to help deliver some relief," Gunn said in a statement posted to Medium on April 1. 

The North Carolina Association of ABC Boards approved a resolution allowing selling back unopened bottles of alcohol to ABC stores, according to The Center Square. 

The boards' president, Miles Davis, said in a statement, “During this time of crisis, all North Carolinians must do what we can to help our friends and neighbors in need."

The newly passed resolution would require ABC stores to accept returns from Jan. 1, 2020, according to The Center Square. But before restaurants and bars can sell back unopened bottles, local boards have to approve policies to allow the new regulations to be initiated in the area. 

According to the Center Square, 18 ABC board have already initiated a policy allowing the returns. 

Almost 18,000 restaurants and bars have had to shut down due to Gov. Roy Cooper's stay-at-home order, North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association President and CEO Lynn Minges told The Center Square. Allowing these businesses to sell back their alcohol will help give them some relief. 

“We are thrilled with N.C. ABC Commission Chair A.D. “Zander” Guy announcement today that the commission will support a buyback policy for unused liquor during the current State of Emergency,” Minges said in an email to the Carolina Journal. “NCRLA has been working closely with Gov. Roy Cooper’s office to push for an updated buyback policy in order to help restaurants and bars across the state. Traditionally, such a decision would be left up to each individual ABC board. This announcement will help put cash in the hands of mixed-beverage permittees at a time they desperately need it.”