By Wesley Young
Winston Salem Journal
July 31, 2017
Area distillers are saying a new state law allowing the sale of up to five bottles of spirits to people taking distillery tours is a plus for tourism and the development of craft distilleries in the state.
The legislation, passed at the end of June, puts the limit on such sales at five bottles per customer per 12-month period, up from the former limit of one bottle per customer.
“We are extraordinarily happy that the law was passed,” said John Fragakis, co-owner of Broad Branch Distillery on North Trade Street, which opened in 2015. “People are starting to conclude that with all the taxes we pay, having additional sales is good for our economy, and having additional sales will allow us to invest in our manpower, adding positions over time.”
Not everyone is happy: the Rev. Mark Creech, director of the Christian Action League, said the new law could be a step on the path to retail liquor sales in North Carolina. The group opposed the previous one-bottle limit and the new five-bottle limit, and Creech predicts distillers will be back to ask for even more direct customers sales. Read the rest of this entry
You must be logged in to post a comment.