Voters in at least four Kentucky counties will decide next month if they want to allow or expand alcohol sales.
An increasing number of counties are choosing to go wet, arguing the move will help the local economy. Carol Beth Martin, malt beverage administrator with the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, says a new state law is also fueling a rise in local option elections.
"Prior to that, there had been a population requirement, so many of these smaller towns could not legally hold a wet-dry vote, and now they can, regardless of their size," Martin told WKU Public Radio.
Cities and counties were previously required to have a population of at least 3,000 in order to hold an alcohol sales vote. As of July, 74 Kentucky counties were dry and 44 were wet. Two others were considered moist, meaning alcohol can be served at restaurants meeting certain requirements.
Local option elections will be held next month in Barren, Butler, Daviess, and McLean counties.
