Kentucky · KY · Food & drink
Kentucky: Where can you buy liquor?
Private licensed stores
Kentucky licenses private package stores to sell distilled spirits; the state does not buy or sell liquor.
A quota retail package license lets a private store sell spirits and wine in sealed packages for drinking off the premises. As the name suggests, the number of these licenses is limited, and liquor sales happen only in 'wet' areas that allow them. Licensed stores may also deliver limited amounts to customers.
What the law says
A quota retail package license shall authorize the licensee to: Purchase, receive, possess, and sell distilled spirits and wine at retail in unbroken packages only, and only for consumption off the licensed premises;
Sources
- KRS 243.240 (FindLaw) Mirror of official text · codes.findlaw.com
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
- Phone
- 502-564-4850
- Website
- abc.ky.gov
How bordering states compare
- Illinois Private licensed storesIllinois licenses private retailers to sell liquor; the state does not buy or sell spirits itself.
- Indiana Private licensed storesIndiana issues liquor dealer permits to private package liquor stores and other retailers; the state does not sell spirits.
- Missouri Private licensed storesMissouri licenses private businesses, including grocery stores, drug stores and general merchandise stores, to sell bottled liquor.
- Ohio Private agency storesOhio sells bottled liquor through privately run businesses acting as agents of the state Division of Liquor Control, at state-set prices.
- Tennessee Private licensed storesTennessee sells liquor through privately owned package stores licensed by the Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
- Virginia Government-run storesVirginia sells liquor only in state-run Virginia ABC stores; private stores may sell beer and wine but not spirits.
- West Virginia State wholesale, private storesWest Virginia is the only liquor wholesaler, but privately owned licensed retail outlets sell liquor to the public.