Is Somerset Kentucky Still a Dry County? A Detailed Guide to Alcohol Regulations

Hey there! If you live in Somerset or are planning to visit, you may be wondering about local alcohol laws. As a Kentucky native myself, I know how confusing our state‘s regulations can be! Let me walk you through everything you need to know about buying alcohol in Somerset and the surrounding areas.

A Quick History of Prohibition in Kentucky

To understand Somerset‘s current alcohol rules, we need to first look at Kentucky‘s history with prohibition. Kentucky was one of the earliest states to experiment with banning alcohol sales in the early 1900s. By 1910, Pulaski County had already gone "dry".

When national prohibition ended in 1933, counties could decide to remain dry. Today, 35 of Kentucky‘s 120 counties still ban all alcohol sales. Somerset and Pulaski County have upheld their alcohol prohibition for over 100 years now through a series of local votes.

Supporters at the time wanted to promote public morality and reduce crime. But many argue it infringes on personal freedom. This debate continues today!

Let‘s Break Down Kentucky‘s Alcohol Laws

While Somerset has its own strict regulations, you‘ll need to understand the state laws too. Here are some of the key Kentucky alcohol rules:

• Alcohol sales are permitted from 6am to 2am on Monday through Saturdays statewide.
• On Sundays, alcohol can be sold from 1pm to 2am.
• Counties and cities can be more restrictive on hours than state laws.
• Beer can be sold in grocery and convenience stores. Wine and liquor only in liquor stores.
• Alcohol sales are banned on major holidays like Christmas and Election Days.
• The drinking age is 21 across the state.

One important note – these laws can vary by type of alcohol:

Beer Sales

• Allowed from 8am to 10pm weekdays and Saturdays
• On Sundays, sales can start at 10am
• Sold in most grocery stores, gas stations, liquor stores

Wine Sales

• Follows same hours as beer
• In most counties restricted to liquor stores only

Liquor Sales

• No sales until 1pm on Sundays
• Only permitted in licensed liquor stores
• Stopped at 10pm on Sundays, later than beer and wine

Alcohol Sale Restrictions in Somerset and Pulaski County

Now, here‘s the big surprise if you‘re visiting Somerset – no alcohol can be sold anywhere in Pulaski County! That means:

• No beer, wine, or liquor sales permitted in any business
• Bars, restaurants, gas stations, liquor stores cannot sell alcohol
• Ban on sales applies 24/7, every day of the week

The only exception is that some Somerset restaurants allow you to bring your own beer or wine to have with a meal. But you can‘t actually buy alcohol inside the restaurant.

As you can imagine, these tight restrictions create challenges for residents and tourists alike! Locals often take a short drive to surrounding "wet" counties like Lincoln or Wayne to stock up on alcohol. Visitors are sometimes caught off guard that they can‘t even buy a 6-pack or bottle of wine for their hotel or Airbnb stay.

Let‘s look at some creative ways people manage to still buy and consume alcohol in and around Somerset:

• Local Facebook groups will do "group orders" where one person drives to a neighboring county to buy alcohol for many people. This saves individual trips!
• For big events like the PRCA Rodeo, some restaurants will obtain special permits to serve alcohol. This requires a lengthy approval process.
• Residents will often stock up on cases of beer, bottles of wine, and liquor when traveling out of the county. Many keep a stash at home.
• Creative bootlegging operations do exist, but come with serious legal risks I cannot recommend.
• Some restaurants allow BYOB policies as a workaround to draw in more customers.

While the full ban on sales may be frustrating, police strictly enforce the laws. I don‘t advise trying to skirt the rules!

Options for Extending Alcohol Sale Hours

For businesses in bordering "wet" counties, there are options to apply for permits to extend alcohol sales hours for special events like concerts and festivals.

Some key things to know:

• Permits allow sales until midnight or later
• Only valid for specific dates/times of the special event
• Business must adhere strictly to all permit conditions
• Applications can be lengthy and must be submitted well in advance

Again, these permits would only be available for qualified businesses in counties where alcohol sales are legal. No permits exist to allow sales within Pulaski County.

Purchasing Alcohol Online and Direct Shipping to Somerset

With local alcohol bans, you may be wondering about ordering wine, beer or liquor online and having it shipped directly to a Somerset address.

This is possible in Kentucky, but there are strict regulations:

• The buyer must obtain a license from the state alcohol board
• The online retailer must verify age at delivery
• An agreement must be documented between retailer and buyer

Without proper licensing, it remains illegal to ship alcohol directly to someone‘s home. Residents and visitors should research all requirements before attempting to order alcohol online.

How Do Kentucky‘s Laws Compare to Other States?

When it comes to alcohol regulation, Kentucky trends on the stricter side nationally:

• Only 10 states still ban Sunday liquor sales. Kentucky prohibits sales apart from 1pm to 2am on Sundays.
• Most states now allow direct shipping of alcohol with minor restrictions. Kentucky tightly regulates alcohol shipping.
• Kentucky bans sales from 2am to 6am. Many states like Wisconsin, Nevada, and Louisiana now allow 24/7 alcohol sales.
• A majority of states permit alcohol sales on major holidays. Kentucky restricts holiday sales.

My Best Tips for Purchasing Alcohol in Somerset

If you‘re a local Somerset resident or will be visiting, what‘s the best way to get your hands on beer, wine or liquor? Here are my pro tips:

• For convenience, drive 15-20 minutes to the Party Source store just over the Pulaski/Lincoln county border. Huge selection!

• Buy in bulk rather than making frequent trips if possible. Get a large stock to keep at home.

• For events, ask the host in advance if BYOB will be allowed. Never assume alcohol will be available.

• If ordering online, research all KY shipping laws. Licenses are a must!

• When visiting, pack any alcohol you‘ll want with you. And search for restaurants that allow BYOB policies.

• Double check dates if a festival or concert claims it will have alcohol sales – temporary permits are rare.

I know Kentucky‘s patchwork of county and city alcohol rules can be confusing at first. But I hope this guide has helped provide more clarity on what to expect around Somerset when it comes to purchasing beer, wine and liquor. Let me know if you have any other questions!