Posted In Alcohol Producers, Alcohol Tourism, Alcoholic Beverage Control Laws, Distilleries As the 2022 Kentucky legislative session has come to a close, it’s time to review the new laws that emerged in Frankfort. For those in the alcoholic beverage industry, the most significant of these is HB 500, which contains several significant advances for distillers. Among these are the standardization and legalization of private barrel selection events and the opportunity for distilleries to establish satellite tasting rooms, two steps to promote bourbon tourism in the commonwealth. More > Tag ..read more

Posted In Alcoholic Beverage Control Laws, Hospitality, Hospitality and Tourism Law One of the many pandemic-inspired ad hoc measures enacted last year to support restaurants and provide much needed merriment for beleaguered patrons has now become a permanent feature of Kentucky law – the cocktail-to-go. SB 67 was signed into law by Kentucky Gov. Beshear on March 15th featuring an emergency clause thereby rendering it immediately effective. More > Tags: Alcohol, Alcohol Beverage Control, Alcohol Distributors, alcohol law, Alcohol Licensing, alcohol producers, alcoholic beverage control ..read more

Posted In Alcohol Producers, Alcohol Tourism, Alcoholic Beverage Control Laws, Hospitality and Tourism Law On February 26th, the Kentucky House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation that significantly enhances and expands in-state and out-of-state manufacturers’ ability to directly ship their products in and out of Kentucky. The legislation quickly passed the Kentucky Senate and was signed into law by Governor Andy Beshear on March 11th.  Because the bill contains an emergency clause, nearly all its provisions became effective immediately upon the Governor’s signing. More&n ..read more

Posted In Alcohol Producers, Alcoholic Beverage Control Laws CBMTRA To many, Washington D.C. has been consumed by COVID-19 and turbulence over the election, but to the alcoholic beverage industry there has been one goal dominating policy discussions: to make permanent the 2017 Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (CBMTRA), which was slated for expiration on December 31, 2020. More > Tags: Alcohol, alcohol law, alcohol producers, Craft Distilleries, TTB ..read more

Posted In Coronavirus, COVID-19, Hospitality The Healthy at Work phase of reopening Kentucky businesses gained steam over the past couple of weeks with restaurants scheduled opening for dine-in customers on May 22, 2020. Restaurants must adhere to a set of industry specific guidelines provided by Governor Andy Beshear in addition to a set of minimum requirements which applies to most businesses in Kentucky. The Kentucky ABC also provided updated guidance to clarify that it is still allowing for restaurants to provide alcohol with curbside service, delivery, and carry-out, since restaurants wil ..read more

Posted In Hospitality, Hospitality and Tourism Law, Senate Bill 99 On April 15th, the day the Kentucky legislative session ended, the Kentucky Senate approved and forwarded Senate Bill 99 to Governor Beshear for his expected signature. While the bill has been overshadowed by House Bill 415 and the COVID-19 emergency, the bill’s impact on the Commonwealth’s alcohol industry is fairly substantial. More > Tags: Craft Breweries, Craft Distilleries, Hospitality, Hospitality and Tourism Law, Hospitality Industry, KRS 242.1243, Senate Bill 99, Wineries ..read more

Posted In COVID-19, Hospitality, Hospitality and Tourism Law On Thursday, March 26, 2020, Kentucky’s response to the coronavirus crisis took an odd turn in the Kentucky legislature with the passage of a bill that will now allow patrons to purchase, for carryout or delivery, alcohol by the drink. UPDATE - Gov. Beshear signed the bill on March 30th. More > Tags: Alcohol, Alcohol Beverage Control, alcohol law, alcoholic beverage control, coronavirus, COVID-19, SB 150 ..read more

Posted In Alcoholic Beverage Control Laws, COVID-19 On Sunday, March 22, Gov. Andy Beshear issued an executive order that closes all non-essential retail as of 8:00 p.m. on Monday, March 23. Essential retail businesses listed in the order include grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, hardware stores and other businesses that provide staple goods. Luckily for alcohol retailers, that list includes liquor stores, which may remain open, but follow social distancing and hygiene guidance from the CDC and Kentucky Department of Public Health. Importantly for restaurants, carry-out, delivery and drive-th ..read more

Posted In Hospitality, Hospitality and Tourism Law A Comprehensive Kentucky Update More > Tags: Retail sales licenses, sales by the drink ..read more