Part 2 of our Festivals series blog posts. Check out Part 1.
For this blog post we highlight the differences between two commonly used permits: the Malt Beverage Special Event Permit and the Winery Special Event Permit.
Malt Beverage Special Event Permit
If you have a Malt Beverage Special Event Permit you are allowed to give free tastings of malt beverages and to sell malt beverages by the glass or in closed containers.
The conditions of the Malt Beverage Special Event Permit are as follows:
- Without prior approval by the ABC Commission at trade shows, holiday festivals, conventions, wine festivals, street festivals, balloon races, and local fund-raisers;
- The products have been previously approved for sale and consumption in NC;
- If the jurisdiction allows for the sale of malt beverages, then tastings and sales are allowed;
- If the jurisdiction does not allow for the sale of malt beverages, then only tastings can be conducted;
- Tasting and sales can be conducted at shopping malls, but the holder of the permit must receive approval by the Commission prior to the event;
- A brewery must purchase all malt beverages sold at the events listed in Number 1 from a licensed malt beverage wholesaler; and
- Receive approval by the NC ABC with a completed Winery/Malt Beverage Special Event Approval Form.
Winery Special Event Permit
If you have an unfortified wine permit, a limited winery permit, a viticulture/enology course authorization or a wine producer permit and obtained a Winery Special Event Permit you are allowed to give free tastings of wine and to sell wine by the glass or in closed containers.
The conditions of the Winery Special Event Permit are as follows:
- Without prior approval by the ABC Commission at trade shows, holiday festivals, conventions, wine festivals, street festivals, balloon races, and local fund-raisers;
- The products have been previously approved for sale and consumption in NC;
- If the jurisdiction allows for the sale of wines, then tastings and sales are allowed;
- If the jurisdiction does not allow for the sale of wines, then only tastings can be conducted;
- Tasting and sales can be conducted at shopping malls, but the holder of the permit must receive approval by the Commission prior to the event;
- Receive approval by the NC ABC with a completed Winery/Malt Beverage Special Event Approval Form.
*The Winery/Malt Beverage Special Event Approval Form can be found here.
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Contact the NC ABC Commission
400 East Tryon Road
Raleigh, NC 27610
919-779-0700