1. (a) As used in this Section, a "growler" is a rigid glass, ceramic, plastic, aluminum, or stainless steel container, with a secured seal closure or cap, that is no larger than 4 liters (1.0567 gallons) into which a malt beverage or unfortified wine is prefilled, filled, or refilled on demand for off-premises consumption.

2. (b) Malt beverages may be sold in growlers as follows:

   1. (1) Holders of only a brewery permit may sell, deliver, and ship growlers prefilled with the brewery's malt beverage for off-premises consumption provided the growler has an attached label that provides the information as required by Rules .0303(a) and .0305 of this Section.
   2. (2) Holders of retail permits pursuant to G.S. 18B-1001(1), (2), (16), or (16a) who do not hold a brewery permit shall not prefill growlers with malt beverage.
   3. (3) Holders of a brewery permit who also have retail permits pursuant to G.S. 18B-1001(1) may fill or refill growlers on demand with the brewery's malt beverage for off-premises consumption, provided the growler has an attached label as required by Rules .0303(b) and (c) and .0305 of this Section.
   4. (4) Holders of retail permits pursuant to G.S. 18B-1001(1), (2), (16), or (16a) may fill or refill growlers on demand with draft malt beverage for off-premises consumption, provided the growler has an label as required by Rules .0303(b) and (c) and .0305 of this Section.

3. (c) Unfortified wine may be sold in growlers as follows:

   1. (1) Holders of only an unfortified winery permit may sell, deliver, and ship growlers prefilled with the winery's unfortified wine for off-premises consumption provided the growler has an attached label that provides the information as required by Rules .0304(a), (b), and (c), and .0305 of this Section.
   2. (2) Holders of retail permits pursuant to G.S. 18B-1001(3), (4), (16), or (16a) who do not hold an unfortified winery permit shall not prefill growlers with unfortified wine.
   3. (3) Holders of an unfortified winery permit who also have retail permits pursuant to G.S. 18B-1001(3) may fill or refill growlers on demand with the winery's unfortified wine for off-premises consumption, provided the growler has an attached label as required by Rules .0304(d) and (e) and .0305 of this Section.
   4. (4) Holders of retail permits pursuant to G.S. 18B-1001(3), (4), (16), or (16a) may fill or refill growlers on demand with unfortified wine for off-premises consumption, provided the growler has an attached label as required by Rules .0304(d) and (e) and .0305 of this Section.
4. (d) Holders of retail permits pursuant to G.S. 18B-1001(1), (2), (3), (4), (16), or (16a) shall affix a label to the growler as required by Rules .0303(b) and (c), .0304(d) and (e), and .0305 of this Section when filling or refilling a growler.
5. (e) Holders of retail permits pursuant to G.S. 18B-1001(1), (2), (3), (4), (16), or (16a) may, in their discretion, refuse to fill or refill a growler, except in matters of discrimination pursuant to G.S. 18B-305(c).

History Note: Authority G.S. 18B-100; 18B-206(a); 18B-207; 18B-305; 18B-1001;
Eff. April 1, 2011;
Temporary Amendment Eff. October 25, 2013;
Amended Eff. September 1, 2014;
Transferred and Recodified from 04 NCAC 02T .0308 Eff. August 1, 2015;
Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. August 19, 2017;
Temporary Amendment Eff. November 28, 2017;
Amended Eff. May 1, 2022; August 1, 2018;
Readopted Eff. February 1, 2026.