Tagged: alcohol sales

Kentuckians in wet and moist counties may soon be able to buy alcohol on election days.

 The Kentucky House of Representatives has passed Senate Bill 13, sponsored by State Senator John Schickel, a Republican from Union. Under the bill, small businesses and tourist destinations along Kentucky's Bourbon trail would also be able to stay open during election days.

The ban on alcohol sales during the 6 a.m. to 6p.m. polling hours was a Prohibition-era response to what was already a well-established tradition in Kentucky—buying votes with liquor.

The problem goes back to the Antebellum period. Back then, it wasn’t unusual for saloons to double as polling places at the time. Corrupt politicians did whatever they could to make voters happy.

The legal sale of alcohol on Election Day in Kentucky is a step closer to reality.  Liquor hasn’t been sold legally on Election Day in the commonwealth since the beginning of Prohibition.  Northern Kentucky Senator John Schickel says the measure also would allow local voters to restrict alcohol sales.

A bill that would effectively block grocery stores from selling wine and liquor—and ban wine and liquor sales in new pharmacies—was approved today in a state House committee.

Under the legislation, grocery stores could still sell alcohol from an adjoined structure with a separate entrance. 

Current law does not allow people younger than 21 to enter a place which sells wine and package liquor, which has prevented sales in grocery stores in the past.