Bar owners to postpone ABC fees under new law OK’d by Cooper

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed a bill on Thursday allowing bar owners whose businesses were limited or shut down by his COVID-19 restrictions to defer permitting fees to the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission until they are allowed to fully resume operations.

The new law that was introduced by House Republicans and unanimously approved by state lawmakers also allows ABC permittees whose operations were limited by Cooper’s executive orders to request a refund for any fees they paid during the 2020-2021 permit year.

Payment deferrals on registrations and renewals will remain in place until Cooper’s directives limiting operations expire or are rescinded.