Mixed drinks are now being served in restaurants on Ocracoke. Until Hyde County voters passed a referendum in August 2006, folks only had the option of drinking beer or wine while dining out. Howard's Pub served the first mixed drink (a Bloody Mary) on Feb. 11, 2007.
Not all restaurants plan to take advantage of the new law, however. Some have no plans to add cocktails to their menu and others want to see what customer demand is like before they make a commitment. Small establishments still cannot serve liquor because of ABC laws which require that 30% of food and beverage sales in restaurants serving mixed drinks must be food and the restaurants must have indoor seating for at least 36 people.
On Hatteras Island, establishments still only serve beer and wine. Some restaurants, however, have "brown bagging" licenses which allow customers to bring in their own bottles of liquor. Hatteras restaurant owners who want to sell cocktails are circulating a petition that calls for a vote on the issue. They need signatures from 25% of the island's registered voters in order for an election to be held. The group has until about June 23 to collect the signatures and they are already more than halfway to reaching that goal. - Shelby Kinnaird
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