Jason Wagner
Kentucky's alcohol laws are a complex web of regulations that vary across the state's 120 counties. The laws categorise counties as wet, permitting full retail sales under a state license, dry, prohibiting all sales of alcoholic beverages, or moist, occupying a middle ground between the two. Due to these varying regulations, buying beer in Kentucky depends on where you are in the state. For instance, in Louisville, you can buy beer until midnight on Sundays, whereas in other parts of the state, such as Indiana, beer can only be sold from 1 pm until 9 pm on Sundays. Additionally, Kentucky has over 70 types of licenses for alcohol sales, and the legal age to purchase alcohol is 21, while the legal age to sell or serve alcoholic beverages is 20. Understanding the specific laws and regulations of the county you are in is essential to knowing where you can buy beer in Kentucky.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Alcoholic Beverage Control | The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control maintains a list of counties as wet, dry, or moist. |
| Wet Counties | Louisville, Lexington, Franklin, Murray, Georgetown, Princeton, La Grange, Danville, Junction City, Perryville, Corbin, Hardin, Hopkins, Knox, Whitley, Oldham, and more. |
| Dry Counties | Bourbon, Adair, Allen, Ballard, Bath, Breathitt, Butler, Carlisle, Casey, Clinton, Crittenden, Cumberland, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Hancock, Hart, Hickman, Jackson, Knott, Knox, Larue, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Lincoln, McCreary, McLean, Martin, Menifee, Metcalfe, Monroe, Morgan, Ohio, Owsley, Powell, Robertson, Rockcastle, Russell, Webster, and more. |
| Moist Counties | Carter, Boyle, Hardin, Hopkins, Knox, Whitley, Rockcastle, and more. |
| Alcohol Sale Hours | Alcohol-licensed businesses may sell alcohol from 6:00 a.m. until midnight from Monday to Saturday. However, sales hours may extend beyond midnight and include Sundays in some counties, cities, or precincts. |
| Alcohol Delivery | Alcohol delivery is available in Kentucky through services like Instacart. Delivery hours start as early as 9:00 a.m. and run as late as midnight, depending on store operating hours. |
| Minimum Age for Alcohol Consumption | Individuals under 21 can drink alcohol if provided by a parent or guardian. It is illegal for those under 21 to buy or attempt to buy alcohol and to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over 0.02%. |
| Minimum Age for Alcohol Sale | The minimum age for selling beer is 18, with adult supervision. The minimum age for selling wine or distilled spirits is 20. The minimum age for bartending is 20. |
| Alcohol Purchase on Sundays | In Kentucky, packaged alcohol can be sold from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Sundays. |
| Alcohol Purchase Restrictions | Alcohol cannot be purchased during primary or general elections but can be bought during special elections. |
What You'll Learn
Kentucky's dry, wet, and 'moist' counties
Kentucky's alcohol laws are a confusing patchwork of regulations that divide the state's 120 counties into dry, wet, and moist counties.
A "dry county" prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages within its borders. Out of Kentucky's 120 counties, only 10 are still legally dry. These include Menifee, Elliott, and Morgan, clustered together in northeast Kentucky; Leslie and Knott in Eastern Kentucky; Casey; Clinton, Monroe, and Allen, all on the Tennessee line; and McLean in the western part of the state.
A "wet county" permits full retail sales of alcohol under a state license. There are 32 wet counties in Kentucky.
A "moist county" is a county that falls somewhere between a dry and a wet county. It is typically used to describe a dry county with one or more wet cities, or a county that allows alcohol to be sold in certain situations but has limitations on sales that a normal wet county would not have. Officially, a "moist county" is defined as an otherwise dry county in which a city within the county's jurisdiction has voted to allow full retail sales of alcoholic beverages. There are 49 moist counties in Kentucky.
The complex nature of Kentucky's alcohol laws is due in part to the local option elections that allow counties, cities, or even individual precincts to vote to become wet or dry. For example, if a dry city votes to become wet, a precinct in the city can hold another local option election to return to dry status. However, if a wet city votes to become dry, a precinct within that city cannot hold another election to return to wet status.
The distinction between dry, wet, and moist counties in Kentucky is a reflection of the state's temperance beliefs and the ongoing debate between supporters and opponents of alcohol sales. While supporters argue that legal sales will bring more jobs, tourism, and tax revenue, opponents cite religious grounds and concerns about alcohol abuse and drunken driving.
In addition to the dry, wet, and moist counties, Kentucky also has specific laws governing the sale of alcohol, such as the restriction on selling refrigerated beer in grocery stores and the requirement for separate entrances for wine and liquor sales in grocery stores.
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Buying beer in Louisville
In Louisville, Kentucky, there are several options for purchasing beer. The availability of beer depends on the day of the week and the time of day.
On Sundays, beer and other packaged alcohol can be sold from 1 pm until 9 pm. If you're looking to buy beer before 1 pm on a Sunday, your only option is to go to a brewery, such as Ten20 in Butchertown, which opens at 11 am and fills crowlers and growlers.
On other days of the week, alcohol-licensed businesses in Louisville may sell alcohol from 6 am until midnight, but this can vary by county, city, or precinct.
Some popular places to buy beer in Louisville include:
- Total Wine & More Paddock Shops
- Commonwealth Tap
- Sergio's World Beers
- The Grale
- Atrium Brewing
- Bluegrass Brewing Co.
- Butchertown Brewing
- Monnik
- Goodwood Brewing Company
- Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant
- Hi-Wire
- Hometown Brewing Company
- Noble Funk Brewing Company
- Old Louisville Brewery
- Shippingport Brewing
- Ten20 Craft Brewery
- Upland Brewing Company
- West Sixth NuLu
These establishments offer a variety of craft beers, ranging from local brews to international options, and some even provide unique experiences, such as vintage fridges and beer gardens.
Additionally, there are beer tours and bicycle tours available in Louisville that can help you explore the city's craft beer scene and visit multiple breweries.
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Buying beer in Lexington
The laws surrounding alcohol sales in Kentucky are complex, and the status of alcohol sales in each county can change frequently. Kentucky has 120 counties, 39 of which are dry (prohibiting all sales of alcoholic beverages), 32 are wet (permitting full retail sales of alcohol under a state license), and 49 are considered 'moist' (a wet city in an otherwise dry county).
Lexington, located in Fayette County, is a wet city, meaning alcohol sales are permitted.
Where to Buy Beer in Lexington
Lexington has a variety of breweries, including Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co., West Sixth Brewing, Country Boy Brewing, Blue Stallion Brewing Company, and Rock House Brewing. These breweries offer a range of craft beers, and some also provide tours and tasting experiences.
In addition to breweries, there are several stores in Lexington that sell beer, such as Total Wine & More, which offers a wide selection of beer, wine, and spirits.
Alcohol Sale Restrictions
While Fayette County is wet, there are still some restrictions on alcohol sales in Lexington. For example, alcohol sales are prohibited on Sundays before 1 pm, and packaged alcohol can only be sold from 1 pm until 9 pm on Sundays. Additionally, Kentucky has a patchwork of laws that govern the sale of alcoholic beverages, and these laws can vary from county to county. For instance, in Kentucky, a consumer may purchase wine from a drug store but not from a supermarket. A grocery store must have a separate entrance and shop to sell wine or liquor.
Age Restrictions
Kentucky law prohibits the sale of alcohol to anyone under the age of 21, and it is illegal for those under 21 to purchase or attempt to purchase alcohol. Adults aged 20 or older can serve and bartend in venues selling alcohol for on-site consumption. For off-site consumption, adults aged 18 or older may sell beer under the supervision of another adult aged 20 or older. For the sale of wine or distilled spirits, the seller must be at least 20 years old.
Drinking and Driving
It is illegal to drink in public in Kentucky, including on any bus or train, and it is also illegal to have any open containers of alcohol in a vehicle. The state has strict laws against driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or any impairing substance, with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of 0.08% for adults and 0.02% for drivers under the age of 21.
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Alcohol delivery services in Kentucky
Kentucky's alcohol laws are complex, with 39 of its 120 counties being dry (prohibiting all alcohol sales), 32 wet (permitting full retail sales of alcohol), and 49 moist or dry with special circumstances. This means that buying alcohol in Kentucky depends on your location.
However, there are several alcohol delivery services available in Kentucky. Minibar Delivery offers wine, liquor, beer, and more delivered to your door in as little as 30-60 minutes. They have been helping local stores deliver alcohol for over five years and serve many cities and states.
Instacart also offers alcohol delivery or pickup in Kentucky. You can shop for beer, wine, liquor, and mixers using their app or website, and they will connect you with a personal shopper in your area. You can track your order and communicate with your shopper in real time.
Total Wine & More provides another alcohol delivery option in Louisville, Kentucky. They deliver wine, beer, and spirits and have a variety of popular options to choose from.
Additionally, some local options in Louisville, such as breweries and specific stores, may offer alcohol delivery or pickup services.
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Kentucky's alcohol laws
Dry, Wet, and Moist Counties
Of Kentucky's 120 counties, 39 are dry (prohibiting all sales of alcoholic beverages), 32 are wet (permitting full retail sales under a state license), and 49 are "moist" or dry with special circumstances. For example, in a moist county, alcohol may be legal in a city, country club, or winery within the county. The status of alcohol sales in a county can change frequently due to local option elections.
Licensing
Adding to the complexity, Kentucky has over 70 types of licenses for the sale of alcohol, including four types of restaurant licenses. The state has issued more than 13,000 licenses.
Where to Buy Alcohol
In Kentucky, you can buy wine in a drug store but not in a supermarket. Wine and spirits can be sold in grocery stores, but only if they have a separate entrance and shop and do not allow minors to work there. Beer can be sold in the main shopping area of grocery stores.
When to Buy Alcohol
Alcohol-licensed businesses may sell alcohol Monday through Saturday from 6:00 a.m. until midnight. However, counties, cities, or precincts may permit sales after midnight and on Sundays. For example, in Kentucky, any packaged alcohol can be sold from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Sundays.
Age Restrictions
In Kentucky, you must be 21 years old to purchase alcoholic beverages, and it is illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under that age. However, the legal age to sell or serve alcoholic beverages in a licensed establishment is 20. Those who are 18 or older may sell beer for off-site consumption if they are supervised by another adult who is at least 20 years old.
Other Restrictions
It is illegal to drink in public or in a vehicle in Kentucky, and you cannot have any open containers of alcohol in a vehicle. The legal limit for driving under the influence (DUI) is a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08%drivers under 21, the limit is 0.02%.
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Frequently asked questions
You can buy beer in Kentucky at a grocery store, a pharmacy, a bar, a restaurant, a brewery, or online through a service like Instacart.
Yes, you can buy beer at a grocery store in Kentucky. However, wine and spirits cannot be sold in the same area as other groceries. They must be sold in a separate area with a different entrance.
Yes, you can buy beer at a pharmacy in Kentucky.
Yes, you can buy beer at a bar or restaurant in Kentucky.
Yes, you can buy beer directly from a brewery in Kentucky.
Yes, you can order beer online and have it delivered in Kentucky through services like Instacart. However, additional alcohol cannot be added to your order once it has been placed, and you must be 21 or older and provide a valid photo ID.
