50+ NC businesses face $62,400 in fines for alcohol violations, ABC Commission says
Mar 16, 2025
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control officials said this week that more than 50 establishments were caught on various violations -- facing more than $62,000 in fines or suspensions.
The violations are for businesses that are licensed to sell alcohol across North Caro
lina -- including bars, clubs, restaurants or stores.
Each month, the North Carolina ABC Commission holds a meeting and lists various establishments that officials say violated rules.
The businesses then decide to either pay fines and/or accept having their licenses suspended for various days.
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Earlier this week, the ABC Commission made available the list of more than 50 new hearing cases. (pdf document)
In the commission's Wednesday meeting, the group ratified the 52 hearing cases resulting in penalties over $62,400 and/or suspension of permits for at least three days. The actual list of violations for each business is not yet available.
Meanwhile, the suspension date starts this weekend for various businesses facing fines or suspensions from the previous month.
The list of violations from the previous month is now available from 45 hearing cases with penalties over $54,000 and/or at least three days of permit suspensions.
In some cases, businesses chose to pay a partial fine and have a few days of suspension.
The suspensions were set to go into effect starting Friday. Nine businesses will undergo suspensions with an average of about 2 weeks each, the ABC Commission said.
The ABC violations include:
selling to or allowing consumption by an intoxicated person
selling or giving alcoholic beverages to an underage person
not purchasing only from wholesalers
failing to deface a tax stamp once the liquor bottle was empty
failing to post ABC permits
failing to maintain invoices of alcoholic beverages purchases
failing to clear tables and counters of all alcoholic beverages by 2:30 am
failing to destroy unconsumed alcoholic beverages
transferring spirituous liquor between commonly owned business locations
failing to maintain the minimum food inventory required for off-premises fortified wine permits
Some of the businesses in central North Carolina in the list of 45 include Dueling Piano Bar in downtown Raleigh, Walgreens and Aldi in Wake Forest, the Blue Horn Lounge in Chapel Hill and La Cacerola and Chili Bee Cafe and Grille in Durham.
Others in North Carolina include Four Points by Sheraton Fayetteville Fort Bragg and the Commodore Club in Wrightsville Beach. ...read more read less