Chairman Hank Bauer , Burna Mattocks , Director of Special Services and Greg Stallings , Director of Product and Pricing .
for Alcohol Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , and the Duke University School of Medicine , on how alcohol affects the developing brain . Community members can connect with Talk it Out ambassadors via the website , and at the grassroots level in communities across the state .
Despite its longevity , Talk It Out has continued to evolve over time and consistently generates high levels of engagement . In 2022 , 226,724 unique users visited the campaign website , and the Talk It Out social media accounts generated nearly 12 million organic impressions across Facebook , Instagram and LinkedIn .
The Commission remains committed to expanding its educational offerings . During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic , the Commission shifted all its in-person programs to a virtual format . This includes the Responsible Alcohol Sales / Service Program , a free point-of-sale training program that helps bartenders , servers , clerks , managers and anyone else involved in the sale or service of alcohol learn about best practices for complying with state law and preventing alcohol-related incidents or violations . Various Talk it Out events and activities were also moved online .
One popular component was the Talk It Out Tuesday series , an ongoing free virtual series featuring speakers discussing strategies , research and best practices for preventing underage drinking . Although in-person activities for all programs have since resumed , many of the virtual programming and resources developed over the past several years will remain in place , including Talk It Out Tuesdays .
The Commission plans to develop additional resources for people who value receiving educational information in an online format , and has increased staffing to accommodate requests for in-person trainings that are back near pre-pandemic levels .
In partnership with state and local law enforcement , the Commission works to enforce the many laws and rules related to alcohol sales and consumption . The Commission generally sees between 75 to 80 violations per month , ranging from citations for underage drinking to licensees not having the correct paperwork on hand . The total number of monthly violations was almost twice as high in 2022 as the year prior , largely due to more businesses opening up post-pandemic . When less on-premise business was taking place , fewer violations were reported . The Commission ’ s legal staff consistently reaches out to permit holders , advising them to participate in responsible alcohol sales / service training to ensure people understand the requirements and have an opportunity to ask questions .
Bauer is currently in discussion with numerous state legislators , along with various associations and external partners , about revising North Carolina ’ s alcohol laws and rules .
“ The rules were written years ago and have only occasionally been updated since then ,” Bauer explains . “ It ’ s a big initiative for us to get it updated , but we currently have a lot of outdated laws , many of which hinder people from being able to buy and sell alcohol . Updating these rules is another part of our overall modernization process .”
The NC ABC Commission is working closely with legislators to revise alcohol regulations for the upcoming legislative session in February 2023 .
One legislative topic Bauer is not particularly concerned about is the issue of privatization , which is an often-debated topic in North Carolina and other control states . Unlike many of his predecessors , Bauer says that he has yet to engage in any serious conversations about the topic and thinks that is because privatization is so unlikely to happen .
“ When you look at the amount of revenue we contribute to the state every year , and you see how those dollars are allocated to improve conditions across the state , and you see the total revenue amount steadily on an increase , how can you seriously consider privatization ?” he asks . “ We do so many positive things for North Carolina , and if anything , I think we have an opportunity to talk even more about what we are doing . You ’ ll see that featured prominently on our new website . It ’ s important for people to understand the many different ways in which we contribute .”
With sales from the first half of the current fiscal year up 8.3 % over last year , Bauer ’ s hard work is paying off . He and the NC ABC Commission are well positioned to successfully steer the system into the future . •
StateWays | www . stateways . com | Spring 2023 19