North Carolina law allows a special event located within a social district to receive a permit from the ABC Commission for the sale of alcohol within the event area. ABC Commission staff have indicated to the City that a special event permittee may participate in a social district, including allowing beverages with social district cups to be carried from and into the special event area, if the requirements under North Carolina law are followed.
Participation in the social district is at the special event holder’s discretion. Event organizers have the choice to allow social district beverages within their event footprint or not. Our office will educate event organizers and determine their preference, and businesses within the social district will receive event notifications indicating whether portions of the social district will be impacted by special events.