Perquimans OKs liquor-by-the-drink vote for Nov. ballot

HERTFORD — Perquimans County voters will decide this fall whether mixed drinks can be sold countywide.

County commissioners voted unanimously Monday to place a liquor-by-the-drink referendum on the Nov. 5 ballot.

County Manager Frank Heath read the resolution authorizing the referendum before commissioners voted to approve it. It will now be up to county voters to decide whether mixed alcoholic beverages can be sold countywide.

Sales of liquor by the drink are now permitted inside the town limits of Hertford due to the successful passage of a voter referendum some years ago. That referendum doesn’t apply to areas outside the town limits.

That affects restaurants and event venues that want to sell liquor by the drink to customers and patrons.

Currently, businesses in unincorporated areas of the county aren’t eligible under state law to obtain a liquor-by-the-drink license. Officials have said the restriction could be one factor convincing some residents to hold their wedding reception or other celebrations outside Perquimans.

Heath will now provide a copy of the resolution to the Perquimans Board of Elections for it to get the referendum prepared for the fall ballot.