There has been both excitement and confusion surrounding the recent passage of new laws and regulations governing the sale, filling and re-filling of growlers within our State. This paper briefly discusses the relevant history and explains the new law in simple terms so that breweries and retailers alike understand what is required of them to be in compliance therewith.

History & Overview -

On April 10, 2013, House Bill 829 was introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly. This served as the first step towards the passage of what is now commonly known and referred to as North Carolina’s “Growler fill” law. Once this bill was passed and signed into law, the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control (“ABC”) Commission was required to propose rules governing the sanitation of growlers for amendment and adoption by the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings Rules Review Commission (“OAH”).