Personal Importation 

North Carolina law prohibits the direct shipment of alcoholic beverages, from an out-of-state dealer, to consumers in this state. It is unlawful for someone to ship or cause to be shipped any amount of alcoholic beverages unless that person holds the appropriate ABC permit. Penalties for violating these laws may result in a criminal prosecution

In-State Purchase

An individual can purchase and transport within the state up to 50 liters of unfortified wine, 80 liters of malt beverage; any amount of malt beverage in kegs; and 8 liters of fortified wine or spirituous liquor combined. In order to purchase or transport an amount greater than this, you must first obtain a Purchase Transportation Permit from your local ABC Board, or a permit issued by the ABC Commission allowing you to possess or purchase a greater amount of alcoholic beverages.

Out-of-State Purchase

If you purchase products from outside this state or country, you may bring back with your accompanied luggage or on your person the amounts indicated above for malt beverages and wine. No more than four (4) liters of spirituous liquor may be purchased out of the state and brought into North Carolina. You may not ship the products nor have them shipped. If you wish to purchase out of the state a greater amount of wine, you must obtain a Purchase Transportation Permit from your local ABC Board. There are no permits for greater amount of malt beverages or spirituous liquor.

18B-102.1. Direct Shipments from Out-of-State Prohibited.

1. It is unlawful for any person who is an out-of-state retail or wholesale dealer in the business of selling alcoholic beverages to ship or cause to be shipped any alcoholic beverage directly to any North Carolina resident who does not hold a valid wholesaler’s permit under Article 11 of this Chapter.
2. The Commission shall mail a notice by certified mail ordering a person who violates the provisions of subsection (a) of this section to cease and desist any shipments of alcoholic beverages to North Carolina residents. If the offender cannot produce a receipt or otherwise show that applicable State taxes have been paid on the shipped alcohol within 30 days after this notice has been deposited by certified mail addressed to the out-of-state retail or wholesale dealer either at the address shown on the shipment or the last known address of that dealer in any legal registry, such as a registry with the Secretary of State for incorporation of a business, or within 30 days after personal service of the notice on the out-of-state retail or wholesale dealer, it shall be presumptive evidence of his intent to ship alcoholic beverages directly to a North Carolina resident who does not hold a valid wholesaler’s permit issued by the Commission.
3. This section shall not apply to producers of beverage alcohol holding a basic permit from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
4. Upon determination by the Commission that a holder of a basic permit from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has made an illegal shipment to consumers in North Carolina, the Commission shall notify the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in writing and by certified mail and request the Bureau to take appropriate action.
5. Whoever violates the provision of this section shall be guilty of a Class I felony and shall pay a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

   18B-109. Direct Shipment of Alcoholic Beverages into the State.

   1. General Prohibition. - No person shall have any alcoholic beverage mailed or shipped to him from outside this State unless he has the appropriate ABC permit.
   2. Armed Forces Installation. - No person shall have malt beverages or unfortified wine shipped directly from a point outside this State to an armed forces installation within this State if those alcoholic beverages are for resale on the installation.