Store & Hours
What are the normal hours of operation? All ABC stores are obligated to open no earlier than 9am and close no later than 9pm. Franklin ABC Store hours are Monday–Saturday 9am–9pm. Closed Sunday.
Do ABC stores operate on Sundays and holidays? ABC stores are under legal obligation to remain closed on Sundays and the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the store may close on the following Monday.
Payment & Returns
What are the acceptable forms of payment? We accept cash, MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express. Debit cards associated with MasterCard and Visa are also accepted. Gift cards are available for purchase in various denominations.
May I return or exchange a product? No. The Franklin ABC Board policy offers no returns, exchanges, or refunds once a product has left the store — unless it is tainted or spoiled. In that case, we will accept the nearly full container and provide a replacement.
Purchasing Limits & Permits
How much may I purchase? Without a permit, a person may purchase at one time: up to 80 liters of malt beverages; any amount of draft malt beverages in kegs; up to 20 liters of unfortified wine; and up to eight liters of fortified wine or spirituous liquor (or eight liters of the two combined).
With a purchase-transportation permit (no charge), you may purchase more than 20 liters of unfortified wine or more than eight liters of fortified wine or spirituous liquor.
What if you don’t stock a product I’d like? If the product is listed in the NC Price Book and you expect to purchase it regularly, we will consider stocking it. If it’s not in the Price Book, we can place a special order — special orders come by the case, require advance payment, and take approximately 6–8 weeks for delivery.
Pricing & Sales
Can ABC stores offer discounts or sales? The retail price of spirituous liquor is uniform throughout North Carolina. A Price Book is published every February, May, August, and November. There are monthly discounts on selected items, and periodically discontinued brands are offered at reduced prices.
Can spirituous liquor be sold in grocery stores? No. In North Carolina, spirituous liquor may be sold only in local ABC stores operated by the local ABC Board.
About NC ABC
What does ABC mean? Alcoholic Beverage Control.
What is a local ABC Board? A local board consists of a Chairman and from two to six members appointed by their city, town, or county governing authority. The Franklin ABC Board is composed of a chairman and two members.
Are local ABC Boards part of the ABC Commission? No. In North Carolina, ABC boards are local political subdivisions of the State. They operate as separate entities establishing their own policies and procedures, while conforming to ABC laws and Commission rules.
Are ABC employees state or county employees? Neither. We are employees of the Franklin ABC Board. Revenue, prices, and various regulations are managed by the State, which also authorizes the Franklin Town Council to make board member appointments.
How is the ABC system funded? A control system operates solely on revenue derived from liquor sales. No property, state, or other local taxes are used to support operations.
How many local ABC Boards are there in NC? Currently there are 166 ABC Boards across North Carolina.
How many counties in North Carolina are dry? There is currently one dry county: Graham. Three counties have no ABC stores: Graham, Madison, and Yadkin.
What is the difference between fortified and unfortified wine? Unfortified wine is 16% alcohol by volume or less. Fortified wine is more than 16% and no more than 24% alcohol by volume, made by fermentation or by the addition of pure brandy.