Tagged: alcohol beverage control

A recent ruling by a federal judge has turned Kentucky’'s liquor sales environment into a state of confusion.

The judge struck down Kentucky laws that prohibit liquor sales in grocery stores and gas stations, calling it unconstitutional. He has since decided to place that ruling  on hold to let Kentucky lawmakers see if they can write a better law.

Madisonville Community College hosts one of three public forums this week on Kentucky’s alcohol laws. The Governor’s task force on reforming Kentucky’s Alcoholic Beverage Control laws is gathering information. They plan to make recommendations on changing the state’s complicated alcohol regulations for the 2013 General Assembly session.

Murray City Council voted yesterday to pass the first reading of the city’s new alcohol ordinance. Murray voted to move from liquor by the drink sales to a fully wet city in July. Councilman Jay Morgan says the ordinance sets an 8% tax rate for both restaurant and packaged sales. It also sets hours of operation for 6 am to 12 am with no alcohol sales allowed on Sunday. The council has until the 19th to pass the second reading of ordinance. The city council meets again next Thursday.

This past week voters in Murray and Marshall County voted on alcohol sales in their respective communities. Marshall County residents answered “no,” but voters in Murray said “Yes.” Murray, currently allows liquor by the drink sales in restaurants. Those restaurants must garner 70% of their revenue from non-alcoholic products. Voters chose to expand alcohol sales to include package stores, but now, old ordinances must be reviewed and new one's drafted before licenses can be issued and stores opened.

Despite voting to go wet this week, Murray residents still have a long wait until they see expanded alcohol sales at bars and stores. City Alcoholic Beverage Control Coordinator Harla McClure says the first step will begin when the vote is certified, which should happen today.