Kentucky Liquor License Lawsuit Dismissed

A Circuit Judge in Kentucky dismissed a lawsuit filed by Beverage Warehouse in St. Matthews which sought to prevent a competitor from obtaining a liquor license.

In the lawsuit, Beverage Warehouse urged the state Alcohol Beverage Control board to withhold licensing to Liquor Barn, claiming that the new business' location violated St. Matthews' ordinances, which prohibit stores within 700 feet of each other, the Louisville Courrier-Journal reports.

Judge Thomas D. Wingate dismissed the suit claiming Beverage Warehouse "has no standing in his court to challenge the granting of a license" to a competitor and furthermore is not entitled to a hearing before the state Alcoholic Beverage Control board.

The judge conceded, however, that the location of the competitor, Liquor Barn, may be unlawful under town ordinances.

Attorney Ken Handmaker, who represents Liquor Barn, said that the new store would be finished within the week and suggested that "there's no basis to hold [the license] up now."

After the judge dismissed the case, Beverage Warehouse president Greg Anastas said he would pursue the case as far as possible.

Though 95 percent of the world's bourbon-style whiskey is produced in Kentucky, it's illegal to sell alcoholic beverages in 65 of the state's 120 counties.