FRANKFORT – The Senate passed a measure yesterday to preserve the status quo in
determining how many package liquor licenses are issued in individual cities and
counties by a 32-4 vote.
The measure, known as Senate Bill 110, would do that by codifying in law rules that
limit the number of licenses available for retail package liquor stores. Currently,
the number of licenses is limited based on the population of a given community. That
number is generally capped at one license per 2,300 people for package stores.
President Pro Tempore Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, said he filed SB 110 in response
to proposed administrative regulations to change the current scheme.
He said voters who backed recent ballot measures allowing liquor sales in their
communities did so knowing how many liquor stores would be permitted under the quota
system. Those voters never anticipated that the state would later lift the caps on
the number of alcohol licenses issued in any one city or county, Higdon said.
Out of Kentucky’s 120 counties, 89 are wet or have wet cities. Higdon said five of
those counties and 28 cities have reached their quotas for retail package liquor
stores.
An amendment filed by Sen. Wil Schroder, R-Wilder, would ensure quotas for retail
drink licenses would not be codified into statute.
He said the Northern Kentucky counties of Campbell and Kenton need more retail drink
licenses – partly because of their proximity to Cincinnati. Schroder said a waiting
list for these specific types of licenses is impeding economic development in
Northern Kentucky.