Stateways

StateWays - September/October 2016

StateWays is the only magazine exclusively covering the control state system within the beverage alcohol industry, with annual updates from liquor control commissions and alcohol control boards and yearly fiscal reporting from control jurisdictions

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StateWays | www.stateways.com | September/October 2016 14 hopefully all that talk of privatization is behind us. This system starts at the local level and involves the state. That pride of ownership you see here is something you just can't replace." The ABC system is also on the cutting edge of modernization compared to sim- ilar state operations. One recent technological enhancement is a mobile app several of the larger boards are putting into place to help clerks quickly and accurately scan IDs to identify fakes. "The app can recognize IDs from any state, and it's going to make it so much easier for retailers to prevent underage sales," Gardner says. As a result of its effi ciencies, the agency has experienced phenomenal growth over the past several years. During the 2016 fi scal year, gross sales at ABC retail stores generated more than $1 billion in revenue, with 5.6 million cases of product shipped. The ABC Commission contributed a total of $1.5 billion to the state's gen- eral fund over the past fi ve years, and 98% of the ABC boards operate profi tably. Gardner credits this momentum to growth within the state of North Carolina itself, and also the great work being performed by the ABC Commission staff. FOCUSING ON ENFORCEMENT AND EDUCATION The ABC Commission has also focused extensively on enforcing violations throughout the state. Last year, fi nes collected for violations amounted to more than $900,000, and all of that money was turned over to the various school districts where each violation took place. The Commission is required to attempt to settle cases whenever possible. Fines in North Carolina are steep: sale to underage or intoxicated persons can result in a $2,000 penalty for the fi rst offence. A $4,000 fi ne along with an automatic three-day permit suspension is standard with the second offence of this type of violation. ABC permit holders who receive three violations within a three-year period are subject to a proposed settlement of 15 days active agency agency profile RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP "...ALL THE MONEY GETS PUT BACK INTO THE CITIES, COUNTIES AND THE STATE. I'M STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THE IDEA OF PRIVATIZATION. IN 'ABC,' THE 'C' STANDS FOR 'CONTROL.'" JIM GARDNER, CHAIRMAN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) COMMISSION "THE APP CAN RECOGNIZE IDS FROM ANY STATE, AND IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT SO MUCH EASIER FOR RETAILERS TO PREVENT UNDERAGE SALES." GARDNER SAYS. One recent technological enhancement for the ABC Commission is a MOBILE APP.

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