Manteo's Sunday Beer Buying Hours

If you're planning a Sunday brunch with mimosas or a relaxing evening with a cold beer in Manteo, it's important to know the local laws around alcohol sales. In June 2024, North Carolina's Governor Roy Cooper signed the so-called Brunch Bill into law, allowing alcohol sales before noon on Sundays for the first time. This change meant that Manteo residents and visitors could now purchase beer, wine, and mixed drinks from 10 am onwards at restaurants and retail stores on Sundays.

Manteo approves the sale of alcohol before noon on Sundays

In a move that will no doubt be welcomed by many, Manteo has become one of the first towns in the Outer Banks region to approve the sale of alcohol before noon on Sundays. This change comes after the signing of the Brunch Bill by Governor Roy Cooper on June 30, which allows local jurisdictions to authorise alcohol sales from 10 a.m. onwards on Sundays.

Previously, the sale of alcohol was prohibited before 12 p.m. on Sundays, leaving many visitors and locals alike scratching their heads. The new ordinance will now allow retail stores in Manteo to sell wine and beer from 10 a.m. onwards, while restaurants can offer wine, beer, and mixed drinks to their patrons at the same time. This change is expected to boost Sunday sales for restaurants, whose owners felt that the previous prohibition was hurting their business.

The Brunch Bill, officially known as SB155, has sparked some controversy among council members. While Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores, and Manteo were quick to approve the earlier sales, the Nags Head town council has postponed their vote to allow for public input from citizens. Similarly, Councilman Jeff Pruitt of the Kitty Hawk Town Council, while voting in favour of the resolution, expressed a desire to understand the sentiment of the people of Kitty Hawk towards this change.

With the new ordinance in place, Manteo joins a growing number of regions, including Texas and Florida, that have updated their alcohol sales laws to allow for earlier purchases on Sundays. This change is sure to be celebrated by those who enjoy a morning mimosa with their Sunday brunch or a relaxing drink during the daytime on a weekend.

The Brunch Bill allows alcohol sales from 10 am on Sundays

On June 30, Governor Roy Cooper signed the Brunch Bill, or SB155, into law. The bill allows for the sale of alcohol before noon on Sundays in Manteo, North Carolina. Previously, alcohol sales were prohibited before 12 pm, which was a point of contention for many Outer Banks visitors and businesses. Now, with the new bill, alcohol sales can begin as early as 10 am on Sundays, providing a boost to Sunday sales for restaurants and retailers.

The Brunch Bill was met with wide support from Outer Banks businesses, particularly restaurant owners who felt that the previous prohibition against selling mixed drinks, wine, or beer before noon on Sundays was hurting their sales. With the new legislation in place, mimosas with a morning Sunday brunch are now part of the Outer Banks scene.

However, there is a catch to the new law. Local jurisdictions must approve the measure for it to take effect. Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores, and Manteo were quick to approve an ordinance allowing earlier alcohol sales on Sundays. On the other hand, the Nags Head town council postponed their vote to allow for citizen input, causing some controversy.

The Brunch Bill is a welcome change for many, allowing for a relaxing Sunday morning beverage and boosting sales for businesses in the area. It is a step towards modernizing alcohol laws in North Carolina and adapting to the needs of both locals and tourists in the Outer Banks.

Alcohol sales prohibited before noon left Outer Banks visitors confused

Before 30 June 2024, a trip to Manteo, North Carolina, on a Sunday morning would have been a dry affair. That's because, until recently, alcohol sales were prohibited before noon in the Outer Banks. The law left many visitors confused, especially those looking to enjoy a Sunday brunch with mimosas or a relaxing morning drink.

The prohibition was a result of a legal requirement that many found perplexing, especially those visiting the area. The restriction on alcohol sales was a relic of Blue Laws, which are laws that restrict activity or sales of certain goods on Sundays to observe the Christian Sabbath. While this may have been a traditional practice, it was clearly out of step with the modern-day expectations of both businesses and consumers.

The good news is that a change in the law now means that Outer Banks visitors can enjoy a tipple earlier in the day. The Brunch Bill, signed into law by Governor Roy Cooper, allows alcohol sales to begin at 10 am on Sundays. This change has been welcomed by restaurant owners, who felt that the previous prohibition on selling mixed drinks, wine, or beer before noon was hurting their Sunday trade.

However, there is a catch. For the new law to take effect, local jurisdictions must approve the measure. Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores, and Manteo have already given their approval, but other areas have been slower to act. The Nags Head town council, for example, has postponed its vote to allow for citizen input. Despite this, the change in the law is a positive step towards meeting the needs and expectations of both businesses and consumers in the Outer Banks.

Nags Head town council postponed their vote to allow public input

Nags Head Town Council Postpones Vote to Allow Public Input

The Nags Head town council has delayed a decision on a proposal to allow Sunday morning alcohol sales in the town. The proposal, which would move the start time for alcohol sales from noon to 10 am, was initially voted down by the council in a 3-2 vote. A subsequent vote to postpone a final decision until July 19 and include a public hearing was then passed by the same margin.

The delay in the vote came as a result of tensions among council members regarding the level of public notice provided for the special meeting. Mayor Bob Edwards and Mayor Pro Tem Susie Walters clashed over the issue, with Walters arguing that more than 50 businesses would be affected by the new law and would lose significant sales due to the two-week delay. In response, Edwards emphasized the importance of sufficient public notice and input, stating, "I will be at the meeting but I am not proud to be conducting Town business in this manner."

The Nags Head Council's decision to postpone the vote on Sunday morning alcohol sales is in contrast to the actions of other towns in the Outer Banks region. Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores, and Manteo have all approved ordinances to allow earlier alcohol sales on Sundays, while Dare and Currituck Counties are set to take up the measure soon after Nags Head's rescheduled vote.

Multi-Family Housing Ordinance Postponement

In a separate but somewhat similar incident, the Nags Head Board postponed a decision on a revised multi-family housing ordinance that would have lifted a moratorium on the construction of multi-family dwellings within the town. The moratorium has been in place since January 2023 due to widespread resident opposition to a proposed apartment complex. The Nags Head Commissioners voted 4-1 to delay the decision and hold a public workshop on September 18 to discuss the two similar proposals presented by the town's planning board and a working group.

This postponement was met with mixed reactions, with some arguing that it is important to consider public input and others expressing frustration at the delay.

The new bill allows for alcohol sales in retail stores and restaurants from 10 am on Sundays

On June 30, 2024, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper signed SB155, also known as the Brunch Bill, into law. This bill changed the law regarding the sale of alcohol before noon on Sundays in Manteo, North Carolina, and the wider Outer Banks (OBX) area.

Previously, the sale of alcohol was prohibited before noon on Sundays, which was a source of frustration for many visitors to the Outer Banks. The new bill allows for alcohol sales in retail stores and restaurants from 10 am on Sundays. This change brings the law into line with the wishes of Outer Banks businesses, particularly restaurant owners, who felt that the previous prohibition against selling alcohol before noon on Sundays was hurting their sales.

However, there is a caveat to this new legislation: local jurisdictions must approve the measure. Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores, and Manteo quickly approved an ordinance allowing earlier sales. However, the Nags Head town council postponed their vote to allow citizens to provide input. As a result, the sale of alcohol before noon on Sundays in Nags Head remains prohibited until the vote is passed.

The Brunch Bill allows for mimosas with a morning Sunday brunch and raises a glass of wine, beer, or a mixed drink at most locations on the Outer Banks from 10 am onwards.

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