Reaction to passing of law that legalizes to-go cocktails

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Governor Roy Cooper signed SB 527 into law on Monday, which will allow establishments to sell cocktails to-go with food orders.

The law states that mixed drinks can be sold with to-go food orders as long as the drink container remains sealed from pick up until you get home with your drink.

This practice had been allowed during the pandemic as restaurants and bars tried to stay afloat during lockdown.

Eagles Dare owner Joseph Apkarian said the passing of this bill is a good, but small step in the right direction for the state.

“Any hard look at the regulation and ABC laws and codes being updated and revised and brought into the current times is probably a good thing,” Apkarian said. “There are so many rules, whether we’re talking city, state, federal of antiqued, draconian laws that simply need to be updated, this being one of them.”

Any to-go drinks must be under 24 ounces and have already been made before the drink leaves the establishment.

Wilmington resident Talianna Bell said she is happy to hear the bill was signed into law as North Carolina was behind other states like her home state of New Jersey when it came to similar laws.

“I think the laws here have been really strict,” Bell said. “I think it might even cause for some people to make mistakes here and there and they get in trouble and they don’t even mean to, but now that, if it’s properly sealed and you’re allowed to walk around, I don’t see the harm in it.”

But Bell also said that people still need to be smart.

“With pros, there’s always cons, you know,” Bell said. “People just need to be smart and if, I mean the law doesn’t change, you can’t be disorderly and drunk in public, like that doesn’t change either. So as long as you just stay respectful to people’s property and yourself, I don’t think it should be a problem.”

The bill also allows ABC stores to be open on New Year’s, the Fourth of July and Labor Day.