TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Dr. Douglas Hewett, ICMA-CM, City Manager
FROM: Dr. Andrew Mansell, Senior Assistant to the City Manager
DATE: September 14, 2026
RE:Title
Authorize the Fayetteville Regional Airport to Extend Alcohol Sales Hours
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COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
All
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal 2: Economic & Strategic Growth. This item supports Goal 2 by enhancing economic growth opportunities at Fayetteville Regional Airport through support of airport concession operations and improvement of the traveler experience.
Executive Summary:
City Council is requested to authorize the City Manager or designee to issue the written approval required under G.S. § 18B-300.3, expanding the hours during which approved airport concessions may sell alcoholic beverages in the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)-screened portion of the terminal. Concessions currently sell alcohol during airport operating hours, but sales may not begin before 10:00 a.m. The proposed change removes the 10:00 a.m. start restriction and allows sales beginning one hour before the first flight and ending one hour before the last flight each day.
G.S. § 18B-300.3, added by Session Law 2024-41 (Senate Bill 527) in July 2024, provides that during the hours of airport operation, a qualifying establishment in the TSA-screened portion of an airport may, with the written approval of the airport authority, sell the alcoholic beverages it is permitted to sell for consumption throughout the TSA-screened portion of the terminal. Beverages sold for consumption outside the establishment must be in non-glass containers holding no more than 16 fluid ounces and displaying the statement "Drink Responsibly - Be 21" in at least 12-point font.
The authorization applies only to existing approved airport concessions. It does not create a new alcohol program, authorize new establishments, or add sales locations, and it requires no additional City staffing or security.
Background:
In July 2024, the General Assembly enacted Session Law 2024-41 (Senate Bill 527), which amended North Carolina ABC laws governing alcohol in the TSA-screened areas of qualifying airports. The law applies to airports servicing airplanes boarding at least 150,000 passengers annually. Fayetteville Regional Airport meets the threshold, with 173,184 enplanements in 2024 and 171,555 in 2025.
The Airport is under contract with Tailwind Concessions, which requested that alcohol sales hours be extended in accordance with State law. At its April 28, 2026 meeting, the Airport Commission unanimously recommended approval and requested authorization for Airport Management to implement the change.
Issues/Analysis:
The proposed change aligns the Airport’s alcohol sales hours with the authority provided under State law and improves service for passengers on early-morning flights. The Airport Commission reports that Fayetteville Regional Airport is the only one of the ten commercial service airports in North Carolina that has not incorporated the 2024 statutory change.
Under the statute, beverages purchased from approved concessions may be consumed throughout the TSA-screened portion of the terminal, subject to the container requirements described above. Existing approved concessions remain subject to all applicable ABC permitting, age verification, service, and airport requirements.
Existing airport operational and security staffing levels are based on flight schedules and passenger volumes, and the change requires no additions to either.
Budget Impact:
No additional City expenditures are anticipated. The extension requires no additional City personnel, Airport Police staffing, or security resources. Concession staffing for the extended hours will be managed by the concessionaire.
Options:
1. Authorize the City Manager or designee to issue the written approval required under G.S. § 18B-300.3, permitting alcohol sales beginning one hour before the first flight and ending one hour before the last flight each day, consistent with State law (recommended);
2. Direct Airport Management to return to City Council with additional information or modifications;
3. Decline to authorize the extension of alcohol sales hours.
Recommended Action::Recommended Action
The Airport Director recommends that City Council approve Option 1 and authorize the City Manager or designee to issue the written approval required under G.S. § 18B-300.3, permitting alcohol sales by approved airport sales beginning one hour before the first flight and ending one hour before the last flight each day, subject to applicable State law, ABC permitting requirements, and airport operating conditions.
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Attachments:
2024 ABC Law Change (Session Law 2024-41, § 31)
Letter from Fayetteville Regional Airport Commission