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WHO WE ARE

The mission of the High Country ABC Board and our employees shall be to serve the citizens of High Country responsibly by controlling the sale of spirituous liquor and promoting customer-friendly, modern, and efficient stores.

 

You have entered into the Official Website of the High Country Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.  Here you will learn about the High Country ABC Board and find information on products and services regarding the sale of spirituous liquors in the High Country.

The High Country ABC Board serves the citizens of the High Country by providing a pleasant shopping experience for our customers while at the same time controlling the sale of spirituous liquor and enforcing the laws and rules of North Carolina. The High Country ABC Board has a zero tolerance attitude for the purchase of spirituous liquor by underage persons and we strive to provide our employees with the training to keep spirituous liquor out of the hands of underage persons.

In addition, we provide a service to the citizens of the High Country by controlling the sale of spirituous liquor while simultaneously generating revenue for our local governments.  The High Country ABC Board is self-sufficient and a separate entity of the County of Avery.

We hope that you enjoy browsing our website and that your shopping experience in our High Country ABC store is a pleasant one.

Starting February 1st, 2023 all Crown Royal bags donated here will be picked up by Crown Royal and filled as a care package to be sent to the actively serving members of the United States Armed Forced overseas. You may donate bags until December 31, 2023.

1158 bags have been donated for the year 2023. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Alcoholic Beverage Control

Yes. The retail price of spirituous liquor sold in North Carolina ABC stores shall be uniform throughout the state. There are monthly discounts on selected items.

We accept Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express & Apple Pay.

In North Carolina, there are only four (4) accepted forms of identification that you can use to purchase alcoholic beverages. They are:

  • A valid driver’s license with the photograph of the person making the purchase.
  • A U.S. Military Identification with a photograph of the person making the purchase.
  • An official State of North Carolina Identification card with a photograph of the person making the purchase.
  • An official passport issued by any nation with a photograph of the person making the purchase. 

Yes. ABC Board policy states that items can be exchanged or refunded with a valid receipt and with in the same month.

According to North Carolina General Statutes, a customer may purchase and transport a maximum of eight (8) liters of either fortified wine or spirituous liquor, or a combination of the two, without a purchase-transportation permit. However, a customer may purchase and transport a maximum of forty (40) liters of either fortified wine or spirituous liquor, or a combination of the two, with a purchase-transportation permit. There is no fee for the permit and it is issued by the ABC store at time of purchase.

In North Carolina, spirituous liquor may be sold only in local ABC stores operated by the local ABC Board.

If the item is listed in the North Carolina Price Book, then the General Manger will consider stocking the item. If it is not listed in the price book, it may be special ordered. A Spirituous Liquor Special Order is made when a customer visits one of our ABC stores and requests to purchase one or more cases of spirituous liquor. We then make a request to the North Carolina ABC Commission. The Commission will contact the vendor for the price so we can advise you of the cost. 

A Spirituous Liquor Special Order must be prepaid by the customer to the local ABC Board, which places the order with the Commission. The Commission transmits the Special Order to the supplier who then ships the order to the State Warehouse in Raleigh for delivery to the local board and the customer. 

To view the list of current items and prices in the Special Orders Database, view the Commission’s Special Orders Price List.

You must submit a permit application to the North Carolina ABC Commission.
Click here for more information on the permit application process. 

No. We are employees of the High Country ABC Board, a separate entity from the county or state.

An establishment holding mixed beverage, brown bagging or special occasion permits must have an employee who is at least 21 years of age in charge of the licensed premises at all times. Bartenders must be 21 years of age to mix drinks containing spirits. Waiters and waitresses in on-premise establishments who serve or sell alcoholic beverages must be 18 years of age. Minors 16 and 17 years of age may be employed if they do not prepare, sell, serve or deliver alcoholic beverages at on-premise establishments. Malt beverage, fortified and unfortified wine permittees shall have an employee who is 18 years of age in charge. Minors may work at off-premise establishments (beer and/or wine) in any capacity, subject to the rules set by the North Carolina Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.

By law, ABC stores can be open between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday and must be closed on Sundays. The local board shall otherwise determine opening and closing hours of its stores.

All spirituous alcoholic beverages sold by local ABC stores are ordered from the State Warehouse in Raleigh.

If you are interested in employment, you will need to contact our office.

No. They pay the same price as any other customer.

As of August 2018, there are 50 county and 11 municipal ABC boards that sell spirituous liquor at retail.

As of August 2018, there are 432 ABC stores in North Carolina

As of August 2018, Graham is the only “dry” county in North Carolina.

As of August 2018, Graham and Madison counties do not have ABC Stores.

Please Call the Avery County Sheriff’s Office or the City of Banner Elk Police. If it is a emergency please dial 911.