NC Bar and Tavern Association releases guidelines proposing how to reopen safely

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On Thursday, the North Carolina Bar and Tavern Association released a detailed safety plan in an effort to show how they can reopen, following the same guidelines as other restaurants and breweries.

Channel 9 spoke with the president of that association, Zack Medford, who said bars have had no revenue coming in for six months, and it’s time for that to change.

“The idea here is bars can open safely. We need to have the opportunity to do so, and the governor has to give us that chance. 85% of the alcohol industry in NC is open. You can go to get a beer at a brewery. You can go to a restaurant. You can even go to a club and sip a martini. The only thing you can’t do right now is go to a private bar in your neighborhood, sit down and have a drink,” he said.

Medford said he has been trying to get in touch with the governor’s office but to no avail.

“We’ve asked Gov. Cooper from day one to sit down with us and figure out how to reopen bars safely. We’ve only heard crickets as a response,” he said. “It’s time to hold Gov. Cooper and Secretary Cohen’s feet to the fire. What is the difference between having a beer at a brewery versus having a beer at Ike and Turners tavern?"

Medford said several bar owners are planning a protest in Charlotte next week. He told Channel 9 that he would keep us posted on the details.

‘I have no money:’ For bars that remain closed, a dire outlook

Cox Media Group