Identical to S 246, filed 3/13/19.

Includes whereas clauses. 

Amends GS 18B-100, which establishes the purpose of GS Chapter 18B (Regulation of Alcoholic Beverages). Adds that if any provision or application of the Chapter is determined to be invalid or unconstitutional, the provision is stricken, and directs the remainder of the Chapter to be construed with the legislative intent to further limit commerce in alcoholic beverages, and with respect to malt beverages, unfortified wine, and fortified wine, construed to enhance regulatory control over taxation, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages through the three-tier regulatory system and the franchise laws imposed by the Chapter. 

Amends GS 18B-1104(a)(8) regarding the authority of a brewery permit holder to obtain a malt beverage wholesaler permit. Expands the scope of the authorization to include breweries that sell, to consumers at the brewery, to wholesalers, to retailers, and to exporters, fewer than 100,000 barrels (was, fewer than 25,000 barrels) of malt beverages produced by it per year. Modifies the authorization to allow a brewery permit holder to obtain a malt beverage wholesaler permit to sell, deliver, and ship at wholesale up to 50,000 barrels of malt beverages manufactured by the brewery per year to unaffiliated retail permittees (previously, limited to malt beverages by the brewery only, with no reference to year). Adds that the barrelege limitations of subsection (a)(8) apply regardless of the number or type of permits that can be issued to a brewery. Specifies that the ABC Commission has no authority to allow more than three additional retail locations authorized. Includes malt beverages manufactured by a supplier that owns 5% or more of a brewery permittee acting under the authorization in the determination of whether the brewery permittee complies with the barrelage limitations. Does not apply to any exemption order or amendment thereto entered by the ABC Commission prior to the effective date of the act.

Amends GS 18B-300 regarding the purposes of the regulation of business relations between malt beverage manufacturers and importers and the malt beverage wholesalers. Adds seven purposes to the regulation, including protecting wholesalers against unfair treatment by suppliers, and promoting consumer choice by ensuring an independent wholesale distribution tier that enables wholesalers to distribute competing products of other suppliers. 

Makes conforming changes to GS 18B-1305(a1), concerning termination of a franchise agreement by a small brewery authorized to distribute its own malt beverage products pursuant to GS 18B-1104(a)(8), as amended. Specifies that the term barrel is defined as in GS 18B-1104. 

Includes a severability clause.