North Carolina ABC Eliminates Label Registration Fee

On Oct. 4, 2019 the North Carolina ABC issued a Memorandum informing industry members that after Jan. 31, 2020, it will stop charging the current $10 fee for wine and beer product label registrations. NC regulations require each wine label to be registered and approved by ABC prior to being sold and shipped to a NC-licensed wholesaler; product label registrations do not expire.

The Memorandum also reminds wine wholesalers of the NC prohibition against channel pricing, consistent with 2011 changes to G.S. §18B-1203, and their obligation to offer nondiscriminatory service and pricing to all retailers within their designated territories.