A Franklin County Circuit Court judge has ordered the state to approve the sale of a small Owensboro distributor to Anheuser-Busch in a decision that could prompt a legislative fight when the General Assembly meets in January.
Judge Phillip J. Shepherd ordered the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to issue a wholesale beer distributor's license to Anheuser-Busch within the next week, which would allow the sale to go through. Other alcohol distributors and retailers have opposed the sale, arguing it would give Anheuser-Busch too much power to control how competing products are distributed.
A spokesman for the department said the state is reviewing the decision. Shepherd noted the case is part of a debate that dates back 50 years over whether brewers should be able to own the distribution.