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Restaurants can have 100% capacity, why are bars stuck at 50%?

Starting at 5 p.m. on March 26, Gov. Roy Cooper's loosened COVID-19 restrictions will take effect in North Carolina. Bar owners are feeling a bit left out.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Starting at 5 p.m. Friday, stores, restaurants and even breweries are welcoming back much bigger crowds as North Carolina's loosened COVID-19 restrictions take effect. 

But one group that's been struggling to stay afloat -- bar owners -- is being left out. Most businesses are welcoming back 75-100% of their customers, why are bars stuck at 50% capacity?

Let's connect the dots. 

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Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, bars have been the last place where North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has eased restrictions. Customers weren't even allowed inside until a month ago, and even then, crowds have been extremely limited at just 30% capacity. 

Experts say bars can be a breeding ground for the virus. We're more likely to forget about social distancing after having a few too many drinks, plus people are talking louder, laughing or even singing, all of which can easily spread the virus in the air. 

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But Cooper is trying to cut bars some slack. That's why he's increasing max capacity slightly to 50% starting March 26. 

And one more thing that will make a big difference? The state's alcohol curfew has been eliminated. Bars may have fewer customers but they'll be able to serve more drinks with last call moving back to 2 a.m. 

RELATED: 'It does feel like maybe we're going to start to see the light at the end of the tunnel' | SC bars prepare to expand alcohol sales hours

One local spot in Belmont, Sammy's Neighborhood Pub said about one-quarter of their profits are made between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., so this could be a big step toward getting bars out of the red and through the pandemic.

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