by BRITTANY PENLAND
News Reporter

Local restaurant and bar owners prepare to stock their shelves with liquor due to the liquor by the drink law which went into effect last Tuesday.

Businesses who plan to sell liquor must acquire a mixed beverage permit from the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.

It is uncertain how the ABC store in Boone will be affected by the passing of the mixed drinks referendum. Photo by Adam Dixon

Temporary permits are valid for 90 days and take seven to 10 business days to receive in the mail Johnson said.

“I think business is going to blow up for a little while, but then it will taper off,” Bartender at Café Portofino Les Z. Zaczek said.

“It’s definitely going to increase business for the first few months because people are going to be excited about it and will want to check it out.”

Permits will cost owners $1,000 and have to be renewed yearly.

Owners also have the option to travel to NCABCC headquarters in Raleigh to receive a temporary permit on location, Johnson said.

“Living in Boone, I have mixed feelings about [the liquor by the drink law], as a business man I love it, but as a resident I was kind of hesitant about it for a while,” Area Supervisor for Macado’s, Michael W. Bosse said.

According to owners of Flipside, Dan A. Moore and Lucas B. McGill, Boone brought beer and wine back to restaurants and hotels in 1986 and the last vote for liquor by the drink was held in 1992.

“I hope it reverses the trend and brings people into town instead of having them leave town,” Owner of Murphy’s Restaurant & Pub Erik Larson said. “I hope it gives people the idea that Boone is a decent place to be instead of everybody going to Blowing Rock.”

According to Bosse, Macado’s plans to sell liquor in a week and a half.

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