Photo by stocknshares/iStockphoto
This is an edited version to reflect updated information. The changes are in the latter part of the post. Thanks!
Let’s say that you’re planning to spend a few days in Kentucky for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
While you’re there, you’d like to sample a mint julep. Or sip wine with dinner. Or visit a pub to knock back a couple of pints.
Depending upon which county you’re staying in, you may not be able to do any of those things, except in a private home.
Welcome to the concept of “wet” and “dry” counties, which can be an important consideration for travelers planning to visit Kentucky.
If you plan to enjoy alcohol while in Kentucky
Visitors to the WEG are expected to find lodging as close to the venue as possible but may be staying as far away as Cincinnati, OH (wet – another state anyway), Louisville (wet – Jefferson County), Somerset (limited – Pulaski County.)
When you’re considering your plans for lodging where you would like to have convenient access to alcohol, find out whether the county where you plan to stay is wet or dry. Or somewhere in between.
You can check the list of Kentucky counties and their alcohol sales status as of 1/1/09.
Here’s a map that gives you a better idea of the status of a Kentucky county’s alcohol sales possibilities.
You can ask at the hotel, too. Keep in mind that the list on the website might be several months old and may not take recent local elections into account
The Kentucky wet/dry map explains in the legend what each designation means. FWIW, Kentucky has 120 counties.
Wet – There are 30 wet counties where you can buy alcohol.
Dry – There are 48 dry counties where you cannot buy alcohol legally. Note that there are more dry counties than wet ones. You can buy alcohol from neighboring wet counties and take it to where you are staying to consume it. But you can’t buy a drink in any form in a dry county. And that includes with meals.
Moist – A wet city in a dry county.
Limited – Alcohol can only be sold by the drink in a restaurant with a certain number of seats and profit margin for food. The level varies according to the size of the restaurant.
Golf – Alcohol is sold by the drink at a golf course. Otherwise, country club dances would be dull.
Winery – Small farm vineyards can sell their wines. But only there.
Qualified historic site – There’s only one, on the border of Boyle and Mercer counties.
Some tips to keep in mind
* In Kentucky, the legal drinking age is 21.
* More than a .08 blood-alcohol content while driving will get you arrested. Don’t drink and then drive. Let alone drink and drive. (Using good sense is always an appropriate choice.)
* In some places you won’t be able to buy alcohol in a restaurant on Sundays. Some restaurants close outright on Sunday because they can’t open their bar.
* An tourist attraction growing in popularity is the Kentucky Bourbon Trail which features distilleries that offer small sample sips to visitors of legal age.
The Games
Kentucky Ale is the official beer of the 2010 WEG. Its parent company Alltech is one of the major sponsors of the 2010 WEG.
After I originally published this post, Kentucky Horse Park spokesperson Lisa Jackson added some information for us in the comments section below.
Yes, we will be able to toast the winners at the venue. Adding to my previous confusion is that the Kentucky Horse Park is state property.
Thank you, Lisa.
If you are making travel plans to the 2010 World Equestrian Games, you may enjoy reading these other stories:
PS – A big thank you to Tim Brownson and Andy Hayes for helping me brush up on my Britishisms. Be sure to click on the links over their names. I picked some fun blog entries of theirs for you to try.
Tags: 2010 WEG, 2010 WEG travel, 2010 World Equestrian Games, Kentucky alcohol sales, Kentucky travel
July 23rd, 2009 at 4:36 pm
rhond7:
Please be assured that alcohol will be availalbe at the Kentucky Horse Park during the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games next year, and that alcohol is generally available on the park grounds throughout the year, although you are correct that guests cannot bring their own alcohol onto the grounds.
Alltech’s Kentucky Ale will certainly have a big presence at the Games, but other types of alcohol will be available at various concession stands, food courts and hospitality areas. Kentucky’s own bourbons and wines will be featured in the “Kentucky Experience” pavilion on the grounds. Visitors from around the world will be able to sample, drink and, most likely, purchase bottles of Kentucky alcohol to take home, or have shipped back home.
Congratulations on a well-written and interesting blog!
Lisa Jackson
Director of Marketing & PR
Kentucky Horse Park
July 23rd, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Lisa – Thank you so much for stopping by and telling us about the situation at the horse park! I’ll amend the post to recommend that subsequent readers scroll down to the comments to see your information. Thanks again!
Rhonda Lane