Mixed Beverage Licensing in North Carolina
If your business serves mixed drinks — cocktails, spirits on the rocks, anything with distilled alcohol that isn’t beer or wine — you need a North Carolina mixed beverage permit. And if you hold that permit, you buy your spirits through the NC ABC system at mixed beverage (MXB) prices.
What Is MXB Pricing?
Mixed beverage pricing is the price that licensed bars and restaurants pay for spirits purchased through the NC ABC system. It’s different from retail pricing in two ways:
It’s higher than retail. MXB pricing includes a state surcharge — the “mixed beverage tax” — that’s built into the price. This is separate from any taxes you collect from your customers.
It requires a permit. You must hold a valid mixed beverage permit, issued by the NC ABC Commission, to purchase at MXB prices. Your county ABC board verifies permit status before processing your orders.
Searching MXB Prices
MXB prices are updated on the 1st of each month, alongside the retail price list. You can search MXB pricing through your county board’s website (if they have MXB portal access enabled) or by requesting the MXB price list directly from your board.
Boards using the StateABC platform with MXB portal access display MXB pricing in the product search with a toggle — log in with your verified email to see MXB prices alongside retail prices.
Ordering Through Your County Board
Mixed beverage purchases are made through your county ABC board, not directly from the NC ABC Commission’s warehouse. Your county board places orders on your behalf and you pick up (or receive delivery, where available) from your board’s location.
Typical order process:
- Review the current MXB price list (updated 1st of month)
- Submit your order to your county board by their cutoff date (varies by board)
- Board places your order with the state warehouse
- You pick up when your order arrives (typically within a few business days)
- You receive an invoice reflecting MXB pricing plus any applicable fees
Finding Your County Board
Each county ABC board has its own procedures, cutoff times, and contact information. Find your board:
Permit Compliance Essentials
Purchase only at MXB prices. Purchasing spirits at retail prices and using them in your licensed establishment is a permit violation. Always purchase through your county board at MXB prices.
Keep your permit current. Mixed beverage permits must be renewed annually. Operate with an expired permit and you risk fines and permit suspension.
Know your reporting obligations. NC mixed beverage permittees have monthly reporting requirements to the NC Department of Revenue for mixed beverage tax. Your county ABC board can refer you to the appropriate DOR contacts.
Display your permit. Your mixed beverage permit must be conspicuously displayed at your licensed premises.
Common MXB Questions
Can I buy at retail and use it for my bar? No. This is a permit violation. All spirits served in a mixed beverage establishment must be purchased through the NC ABC system at MXB prices.
What if a product isn’t in the MXB price list? Not all retail products are available for MXB purchase. Contact your county board to check availability or explore special order options.
Can my county board deliver? Delivery availability varies by board. Contact your county board directly.
I lost my permit paperwork — what do I do? Contact the NC ABC Commission directly: abc.nc.gov or call 919-779-0700.
Who enforces mixed beverage regulations? The NC ABC Commission enforces permit conditions. Local ABC Enforcement officers conduct compliance checks. The NC Department of Revenue enforces tax reporting requirements.
Official Resources
- NC ABC Commission — permits, regulations, official price lists
- NC Department of Revenue — Mixed Beverage Tax — monthly reporting
- NC ALE (Alcohol Law Enforcement) — enforcement division