RALEIGH, N.C.  – Voters in an central North Carolina county and a western city have approved measures to allow restaurants to sell liquor by the drink.

Voters in Chatham County southwest of Raleigh approved the sales Tuesday by a nearly 2-1 margin. Pittsboro Mayor Randy Voller says the approval will make the area more attractive.

Wine and beer sales are already allowed, but mixed drinks are essentially only available at country clubs. Liquor can only be bought by the bottle at ABC stores.

Northeastern Chatham County has become a growing bedroom community for major employers in Wake, Durham and Orange Counties, where liquor by the drink is allowed.

The voting was much closer in Kings Mountain, southwest of Charlotte. Sales were approved by nearly 52 percent of the nearly 2,200 votes cast Tuesday.

According to votins results, 1,826 people voted early in Chatham County on the issue of whether to allow liquor by the drink.

Citizens go May 5 to agree or disagree with a change that would allow hard liquor by the glass in Chatham establishments.

The ballot reads: TO PERMIT THE SALE OF MIXED BEVERAGES IN HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, PRIVATE CLUBS, COMMUNITY THEATRES AND CONVENTION CENTERS.  You may vote: “FOR” or “AGAINST.”

At its meeting on Feb. 16, 2009, the Chatham County Board of County Commissioners voted 3-2 in favor of letting residents decide the fate of liquor by the drink on a countywide ballot.

PITTSBORO, N.C. — At its meeting on Feb. 16 the Chatham County Board of County Commissioners voted 3-2 in favor of letting residents decide the fate of liquor by the drink on a countywide ballot.

The commissioners have asked the Chatham County Board of Elections to put the issue on the ballot within the next 120 days.