Wet or Dry?

Wet or Dry?

The mountains sometimes seem to have a schizophrenic attitude toward alcohol. Making moonshine was once a major industry here, and it's still made and sold illegally in some remote areas. At the same time, many communities refuse to authorize the legal sale of alcohol. Four counties in western North Carolina -- Clay, Graham, Mitchell, and Yancey -- are completely dry; no alcohol can be sold, although it's not illegal to drink. Others operate on a spectrum, with a range of different rules and prohibitons. For all the details, visit the Web site of the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (www.ncabc.com).