Even though the State oversees ABC stores and there is a state and federal excise tax placed on liquors, each county distributes the profits from those sales differently from each other.  The state is divided into 4 districts, each of which are found on the ABC Board Directory.  Below are three neighboring counties from the 4th District; here you can see how different each county distributes their profits from ABC sales.

Pender County:ABC Board District

Gross Profits:
  • Law Enforcement – 5% to 15%
  • Alcohol Education – 2% to 5%
  • 5% to Mosquito Control
Net Profits:
  • 65% to Pender County General Fund
  • 35% to municipalities in which stores are located based on sales

Onslow County:

Net Profits:
  • 5% to Jacksonville General Fund
  • 4% to Richlands General Fund
  • 4% to Swansboro General Fund
  • 3% to Holly Ridge General Fund
  • 5% to each municipality with a store
  • 10% to Onslow County Hospital
  • Remainder to Onslow County General Fund

New Hanover:

Net Profits:
  • 75% of store profits of Wrightsville Beach to town General Fund
  • 25% of store profits of Wrightsville Beach to New Hanover County General Fund
  • 75% of store profits of Carolina Beach to town general fund
  • 25% of store profits of Carolina Beach to New Hanover County general fund
  • 50% of city store profits to respective city general funds
  • 50% of city store profits to New Hanover County General Fund
  • 100% of county store profits to New Hanover County General Fund