SILER CITY — This town’s 2019 municipal ballot includes two referenda on beer and wine sales within town limits.
In July, the Siler City Board of Commissioners voted to place the two referenda on the ballot at the behest of the town’s Downtown Advisory Board and several downtown merchants. During the meeting, the board included both items separately to ensure that their intent was clear for state regulators.
If approved by Siler City voters, businesses inside the town limits would be allowed to sell malt beverages, such a beer, and table [unfortified] wine in establishments such as tasting rooms or breweries, rather than only in restaurants and hotels.
Chatham County is considering a similar ballot measure for 2020’s general 2020 election.
North Carolina laws on alcohol sales vary from county to county and municipality to municipality. Rather than the state making a law for all its jurisdictions to follow, North Carolina has created a set of guidelines that outline the extent to which a jurisdiction can allow alcohol sales. It is then up to each county or municipality to put those options up to a vote.
County votes will determine the laws in the municipalities within its jurisdiction if that municipality has not held its own vote in the matter, meaning a single county can have a patchwork of laws that govern alcohol sales that are completely different.
At this time, the only Chatham County municipality that allows beer and wine sales in establishments that are not hotels or restaurants is Pittsboro, which held an election on the topic in 1971. This means that, in Chatham County, establishments such as 580 Craft Beer and House of Hops can currently only be located in Pittsboro.
According to the Brewers Association, North Carolina ranks seventh nationally for the number of breweries that brew and sell craft beer in the state with craft beer sales creating an economic impact of $2 billion annually. It also accounts for $300 million in annual wages and 12,000 jobs.
Siler City is hoping to open up its downtown to some of that revenue.
The referenda seem likely to pass because organized opposition has not been vocal. At the same time, the Siler City Board of Commissioners, Mayor John Grimes, the Downtown Advisory Committee as well as downtown merchants all support the measure.
Siler City residents have the opportunity to cast their vote on both referenda during the 2019 municipal elections. Early voting is currently under way at the Chatham County Board of Elections office in Pittsboro. Residents may also vote on election day, Nov. 5.
Reporter Casey Mann can be reached at CaseyMann@Chathamnr.com.