By KAREN JONES CODY
Two representatives of the state’s Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) Department met with a small group of Knott County residents on Tuesday to share information about what would happen with alcohol sales if Knott County is voted “wet.” Tony Dehner, Commissioner of ABC, explained that the department handles several functions. They oversee licensing, enforcement of alcohol laws and license violations, and also have an administrative and legal department. The commissioner said there were 8,000 alcohol licenses in the state in 2007, and there are currently 14,000 licenses issued.
Dehner told the group that the purpose of their visit was to provide facts, and he said they would remain completely neutral on the issue of voting wet or dry. He introduced Steve Humphress, General Counsel for ABC, who gave a detailed presentation.
Humphress started out with some history of ABC, relating that the Department of Alcholic Beverage Control was started when prohibition ended in 1933. “Even those who opposed the sale of alcohol saw that prohibition wasn’t working, so they decided to do something else,” he said.
Different states handle the regulation of alcohol sales in a different manner; some are “control states,” like Ohio and South Carolina, where the state actually sells alcoholic beverages. Others, like Kentucky, are licensing states, where individuals or businesses are licensed to sell alcohol, and the process is strictly regulated.
In Kentucky, one category of licenses deals with distilled spirits and wine, while a totally separate type of license is involved for malt beverages.
In addition to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, there is also an ABC Board, which includes the commissioner, Danny Reed (Distilled Spirits Administration) and Stephanie Stumbo (Malt Beverage Administration). The functions of the board include making sure everyone knows regulations, limiting the number of licenses, suspending or…
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