“Tonight bars will reopen their doors for the first time in 346 days,” said NCBATA President Zack Medford. “We’re going to show North Carolina that we can do it safely by strictly enforcing the governor’s mask mandate and through social distancing.”

“We’re not asking to go back to business as usual,” said Zack Medford, president of the N.C. Bar and Tavern Association. “We’re just asking for Gov. Roy Cooper to turn the dimmer switch up a notch. We’re asking him to allow bars to operate at 30 percent capacity inside, and let them serve until 11 p.m. We can do it safely. We can do it wearing masks, and we can do it socially distant.”

According to the NCBATA guidelines, when bars reopen they will require masks, social-distancing and contact tracing. They must observe all capacity and hours restrictions. These guidelines also give procedures for sanitization of bars and taverns to meet industry best practices during the pandemic. When used in conjunction with CDC and state-issued advisories, the North Carolina Bar and Tavern Association is confident private bars can reopen as safely as the 85 percent of the bar industry that is already allowed to operate.

“Something as simple as extending the due date would go a long way to keeping bar owners afloat during this crisis, but they received nothing," said North Carolina Bar and Tavern Association President Zack Medford. "It's a slap in the face to still be forced to come out of pocket to pay for an ABC license that you may never be able to use again”

“Why is it safe and legal to drink until 2 a.m. at 85 percent of North Carolina bars, yet dangerous to behave the same way at a private bar?” Medford asks. “There is nothing inherently different about a private bar or its clientele than a hotel bar, brewery bar, or restaurant bar when held to the same safety guidelines.”

“Nearly 6,000 bars have been open for weeks while the governor’s Executive Order continues to keep North Carolina’s 1,063 private bars closed,” said NCBATA President Zack Medford. “Private bars are just as capable of modifying their business plans to adapt to a Covid-19 world as the 85 percent of bars allowed to stay open. We are as ready and willing to conform to NCDHHS health guidelines as everyone else.

“These small-business owners are days away from losing everything, and they need a lifeline. We aren’t asking for special treatment--we are just asking for a chance to survive.”

“We know the governor is doing his best to keep North Carolinians safe during the coronavirus epidemic and we support him,” said NCBATA President Zack Medford. “We believe that bars can take the same measures that make it safe to drink in breweries, distillery bars and restaurant bars, which have been allowed to reopen. Bars deserve the same chance everyone else has. We believe that the mention of a Phase 2.5 indicates the Governor is starting to hear our message and come to that conclusion as well.”

The North Carolina Bar and Tavern Association seeks a temporary restraining order against Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive order 141, in addition to a preliminary and permanent injunction. Under the order, all types of ABC Mixed Beverage permit holders are allowed to operate--with the exception of private bars. These small businesses have been closed for 78 consecutive days and have suffered severe losses while competitors have been open since May 22. Without immediate relief, these losses will only increase exponentially.

The North Carolina Bar and Tavern Association seeks a temporary restraining order against Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive order 141, in addition to a preliminary and permanent injunction. Under the order, all types of ABC Mixed Beverage permit holders are allowed to operate--with the exception of private bars. These small businesses have been closed for 78 consecutive days and have suffered severe losses while competitors have been open since May 22. Without immediate relief, these losses will only increase exponentially.

The North Carolina Bar and Tavern Association seeks a temporary restraining order against Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive order 141, in addition to a preliminary and permanent injunction. Under the order, all types of ABC Mixed Beverage permit holders are allowed to operate--with the exception of private bars. These small businesses have been closed for 78 consecutive days and have suffered severe losses while competitors have been open since May 22. Without immediate relief, these losses will only increase exponentially.