AN ACT to prohibit the consumption of malt beverages or unfortified wine on the premises of any business during the period of time where any on‑premises permit issued to the business authorizing the sale and consumption of malt beverages or unfortified wine is suspended or revoked by the ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL COMMISSION and amend the definition of a convention center for purposes of the State's abc laws.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 18B‑300 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(a1)	Consumption on Premises During Time of Permit Revocation or Suspension. – It shall be unlawful to consume or for a permittee or his agent or employee to allow the consumption of malt beverages or unfortified wine on the premises of any business during the period of time that any on‑premises permit issued to the business authorizing the sale and consumption of malt beverages or unfortified wine has been suspended or revoked by the Commission. The prohibition in this subsection does not apply to the premises upon which the business was located at the time the permit was suspended or revoked if the business ceases to operate in that location and the owner of the property is not the permittee, provided that the permittee is not engaged in any other business or other activity on the premises during the period of suspension or revocation."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 18B‑1000(1a) reads as rewritten:
"(1a)	Convention center. – An establishment that meets either of the following requirements:
a.	A publicly owned or operated establishment that is engaged in the business of sponsoring or hosting conventions and similar large gatherings, including auditoriums, armories, civic centers, convention centers, and coliseums.
b.	A privately owned facility located in a city that has a population of at least 200,000 but not more than 250,000 by the 2000 federal census and is located in a county that has previously authorized the issuance of mixed beverage permits by referendum. To qualify as a convention center under this subdivision, the facility shall meet each of the following requirements:
1.	The facility shall be certified by the appropriate local official as being consistent with the city's redevelopment plan for the area in which the facility is located.
2.	The facility shall contain at least 7,500 square feet of floor space that is available for public use and shall be used exclusively for banquets, receptions, meetings, and similar gatherings.
3.	The facility's annual gross receipts from the sale of alcoholic beverages shall be less than fifty percent (50%) of the gross receipts paid to all providers at permitted functions for food, nonalcoholic beverages, alcoholic beverages, service, and facility usage fees (excluding receipts or charges for entertainment and ancillary services not directly related to providing food and beverage service). The person to whom a permit has been issued for a privately owned facility shall be required to maintain copies of all contracts and invoices for items supplied by providers for a period of three years from the date of the event.
A permit issued for a convention center shall be valid only for those parts of the building used for conventions, banquets, receptions, and other events, and only during scheduled activities."
SECTION 3.  Section 1 of this act becomes effective December 1, 2013, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date. The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 25th day of July, 2013.

	s/	 Tom Apodaca
	 Presiding Officer of the Senate

	s/	 Thom Tillis
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	s/	 Pat McCrory
	 Governor

Approved 10:46 a.m. this 23rd day of August, 2013