Breweries now included in phase two reopening plan

An employee at White Street Brewing Company in Wake Forest, N.C., fills a "crowler" can of beer on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. With bars ordered close due to coronavirus, brewers are making sure their customers can enjoy some fresh suds. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed)

RALEIGH – Updated guidance was distributed late Friday afternoon allowing breweries, wineries, and distilleries to open in Gov. Roy Cooper’s phase two plan. 

According to the one-page document, the establishments must adhere to the same guidance given to restaurants for reopening today. This includes social distancing, cleaning, face coverings, and capping capacity at no more than 50% of fire code capacity. 

From the new guidance: 

An establishment shall not be considered to be “principally engaged in the business of selling alcoholic beverages for onsite consumption” — and it may be open under Executive Order No. 141 — if it meets the following test:

    • It produces alcoholic beverages for commercial sale off-premises and is, therefore, permitted by the ABC Commission under N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 18B-1101 to 18B-1105.

The import of this Guidance is that eating establishments and restaurants as defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 18B-1000(2) & (6) and breweries, wineries, and distilleries permitted under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 18B-1100 et. seq. are allowed to open under Section 8(A) of Executive Order 141.

The full guidance document can be viewed here