By Isabella Cochrane
The Daily Tar Heel
After controlling alcohol sales for 73 years, the state is considering dramatic reforms, one of which would take ownership of liquor stores out of state hands.
The discovery of controversial practices by several local Alcoholic Beverage Control boards around the state — branches of the state agency that controls all aspects of alcohol sales and production — has led Gov. Bev Perdue and other state officials to review the liquor retail system.
Members of the New Hanover County board resigned after receiving criticism for high salaries, and the Mecklenburg County board was accused of misusing state money in late 2009 when a liquor company paid for a private party.
The ABC commission passed an ethics policy Wednesday in response to those members’ actions. The policy puts tighter restrictions on board members’ expenses. Read the rest of this entry