Commissioners’ approval shifts final decision to the ballot
Columbus County, NC — With commissioners voting to place a countywide alcohol referendum on the November ballot, the final decision now rests with… The people of Columbus County.
The board’s action advances a set of questions asking voters whether beer, wine, and mixed beverages should be allowed in unincorporated areas.
Commissioner Lavern Coleman requested the measure, noting that county alcohol rules have not been revisited in more than 20 years.
The November ballot will include questions on:
– On‑premises and off‑premises beer sales
– On‑premises and off‑premises wine sales
– Mixed‑beverage sales in restaurants, hotels, private clubs, community theatres, and convention centers
Columbus County is among the few counties in North Carolina without countywide beer and wine sales. The last attempt to change that, a 2003 referendum was unsuccessful. If voters approve the measures this fall, alcohol sales would become legal in unincorporated areas, aligning the county with most of North Carolina’s 100 counties.
The referendum will appear on the November 2026 general‑election ballot. Voters will make the final call.
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