In 1919, during the Prohibition period, alcohol was banned in the United States with the passage of the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution. But in 1933 the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution repealed the 18th Amendment, and gave states the power to enact their own laws regarding the production, distribution, and sale of alcohol.

Today, each state—and in some cases, each municipality or county—has its own regulations regarding the sale and shipment of all alcoholic beverages. When shipping alcohol across state borders, both the law of the state from which the shipment is made and the law of the state in which it is received are relevant. And the commercial carriers such as UPS, FedEx, and DHL only ship alcohol to and from licensed manufacturers, distributors, sellers, and importers.

In North Carolina (NC), the regulation of alcohol is governed by the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABC Commission), which operates under the state's ABC laws. These laws control the sale, transportation, and consumption of alcoholic beverages within the state. North Carolina is a 'control state,' meaning the state government has significant control over the sale of liquor. For example, the sale of distilled spirits is only allowed in state-operated ABC stores. The shipment of alcohol into and out of the state is also regulated; only licensed entities may legally ship alcohol, and individuals are generally not permitted to ship alcohol directly to consumers within the state. Additionally, carriers that are authorized to ship alcohol must comply with both North Carolina's regulations and those of the destination state. It's important for businesses and consumers to be aware of these regulations to ensure compliance when shipping alcohol across state lines.