Corbin’s through, now it’s London’s turn

Should city vote for package alcohol, many questions to be answered

The Times-Tribune

CORBIN — By Jeff Noble / Staff writer

With Corbin saying “Yes” to the sale of alcohol by the package Tuesday night, the attention now turns to London’s vote on Tuesday, March 6 — less than three weeks away.

Like Corbin, the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in London is already allowed by the drink in some restaurants. A big difference is that London also allows liquor by the drink to be sold in some restaurants on Sundays.

But the question on the London ballot is the same as its neighbor to the south down I-75 just voted on. And that is, will London voters allow the sale of alcoholic beverages by the package with either a simple “Yes” or “No” vote?

And if it goes in favor, a whole lot of questions will be thrown at the London City Council, as well as a whole new set of state regulations that will determine who gets the licenses and where liquor stores can be built.

The major change will be who can sell package liquor, wine and beer.

Presently from London, the closest place to legally buy alcohol by the package is in Manchester, over in Clay County. Last year, voters in that city voted to make Manchester wet by both the drink and by the package. While restaurants selling alcohol opened up within weeks and stores selling beer by the package opened up shortly afterwards, buying hard liquor or wine in Manchester won’t be available until later this month, when two liquor stores are expected to open up. Manchester lies about 20 miles east of London. Prior to that, Richmond was the closest “wet by the package” town to London.

Like Corbin, London is a fourth class city in Kentucky, and because of that, state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control regulations would determine the number of package stores that would sell liquor, beer and wine. It’s expected at least four package stores could operate in London, if voters approve the measure on March 6. Those could be a stand-alone liquor store similar to ones in cities like Richmond, Lexington and soon Manchester; or can be owned by a supermarket (like one liquor store in Winchester owned by a national supermarket chain, where the grocery store and liquor stores are next to each other, but have separate entrances on the outside. In Lexington, the Meijer discount store also has a similar set up).

Drug store chains such as CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreen’s have also operated liquor stores inside their buildings, similar to ones the chains operate in Lexington, Richmond, Winchester, and Hazard. Should the vote to make London wet by the package go through next month, that possibility could also happen.

As for retail beer licenses — those that sell beer by the package — would be unlimited in the city of London, and could be sold in convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores and supermarkets. In areas where local alcohol laws allow, both Kroger and Walmart sell beer by the package. Both have major operations in London.

The rules and regulations on what could happen when a city faces a local option election were discussed during a community forum in Barbourville back on Jan. 24, in which representatives from the state ABC board came to conduct the session, sponsored by the City of Barbourville. During that meeting, ABC officials told those in the audience who had questions on how close the sale could be near a school or a church of if alcohol could possibly be sold on Sundays in the future would be up to the local city council.

The deadline to register to vote in the London special election was last Monday, Feb. 6. Absentee voting will begin on Feb. 21. Only those eligible to vote in the city of London can cast their ballot on March 6. If you have any questions about next Tuesday’s election, contact the Laurel County Court Clerk’s Office in London at 864-5158.