Hospitality Law Blog

New KY Laws Bring Codified Private Barrel Selections, Satellite Tasting Rooms, and Lower Age for Alcohol-Related Jobs

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 >

Kentucky General Assembly Makes Cocktails-To-Go Privileges Permanent

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 15^th featuring an emergency clause thereby rendering it immediately effective. More >

Alcohol Producers, Take Note: Direct To Consumer Sales and Shipping Privileges Enhanced

On February 26^th, 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 11^th.  Because the bill contains an emergency clause, nearly all its provisions became effective immediately upon the Governor’s signing. More >

Developments in Federal Law – Alcoholic Beverage Regulation: Congress Makes the CBMTRA Permanent and TTB Expands Allowable Standards of Fill

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 >

Restaurants Have Their Own Set of Healthy at Work Requirements

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 will not be operating at full capacity. More >

Legislative Session Ends with Passage of Alcohol Regulation Changes – 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 >

Relief for Wholesalers and Distributors

After a flurry of executive orders and legislative action by Kentucky’s Governor and General Assembly to provide relief for hard hit alcohol retailers, at the request of our firm on behalf of distributor and wholesaler clients, the Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet and Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control issued a new Order, effective April 8th, extending the hours that malt beverage distributors and wine and spirits wholesalers may deliver product to the retailers to “any time of the day that the retailer is ready, able and voluntarily willing to accept deliveries of product.” This Order will allow distributors and wholesalers to deliver product to retailers outside the existing restricted hours mandated by state statute and local ordinances, which will hopefully minimize the spread of Coronavirus and allow these middle tier industry members to more efficiently and safely manage their workforce.

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Provisions of New Kentucky Law, SB 150, Allow for Sales by the Drink Deliveries and Take-Out

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 >

New Order from Gov. Beshear Closes All Non-Essential Retail Businesses

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-through food and beverage sales may continue. More >

Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet Extends Package Sales Privileges to By-the-Drink Licensees

A Comprehensive Kentucky Update More >