AN ACT to amend the requirements that must be met before a city may hold a malt beverage or unfortified wine election.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 18B‑600 reads as rewritten:

§ 18B‑600.  Places eligible to hold alcoholic beverage elections.

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(c)        City Malt Beverage and Unfortified Wine Elections. – A city may hold a malt beverage or unfortified wine election only if the county in which the city is located has already held such an election, election and the vote in the last county election was against the sale of that kind of alcoholic beverage, and one or more of the following apply:

(1)        The city has a population of 500 or more according to the most recent federal decennial census.

(2)        The city operates an ABC store.

(3)        The city has a population of 400 or more but less than 500 according to the most recent federal decennial census and had a population of 500 or more according to the prior federal decennial census.beverage.

(c1)      Certain City Malt Beverage and Unfortified Wine Elections. – A city may hold a malt beverage or unfortified wine election only if all of the following criteria are met:

(1)        The county in which more than fifty percent (50%) of the area of the primary corporate limits of the city is located has already held such an election, and the vote in the last county election was against the sale of that kind of alcoholic beverage.

(2)        The city has a population of 200 or more.

(3)        The county in which more than fifty percent (50%) of the area of the primary corporate limits of the city is located also contains three or more other cities that have previously voted to allow malt beverage or unfortified wine sales.

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SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.