Lancaster Residents Vote Yes To Alcohol Sales

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Posted: 11:50 PM Aug 18, 2008
Last Updated: 11:16 PM Aug 19, 2008

20 comments

Map of Wet aand Dry Counties

List of Wet and Dry Counties

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Nearly half the voters in Lancaster hit the polls to choose whether businesses can sell alcohol. The decision is yes.

The proposal was passed with 656 votes in favor to 550 opposed. Voter turnout ended up being nearly 50 percent, much higher than the turnout for the May Primary.

Liquor licenses are not be issued for at least 60 days following a verified vote.

Most religious groups in the city opposed the measure to allow alchohol sales in the town but some residents say it's not a moral issue, it's just business.

The goal of allowing the city to be "wet" is to bring in more revenue and hopefully spur an economy that is in need of a boost. Many local businesses have shut down in recent years. The hope for some is that if alcohol sales became legal, new businesses and more jobs might make their way back to the city.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Brandon Location: Lancaster on Aug 25, 2008 at 04:57 PM
1) Drunk driving does not go up in counties that go from dry to wet. So that is a ludicrous argument. 2) Yes, towns around us do have alcohol that we can drive to and get it...but why give them our money. Especially when alcohol is not only legal, but a right for anyone over 21. 3) Whoever said that the poorest counties in kentucky are wet is an idiot. The 25 greatest economic counties in KY are wet. The 25 poorest are dry. 4) Alcohol is not the answer to our economic woes, but it sure opens some doors for us to take advantage. 5)Whoever wanted the entire county to vote... you didn't vote because you don't pay city taxes and sewage and alcohol won't be sold in the county, only in the city. 6) You don't want your kids around it? What do you want to do? Keep them in this town for the rest of their life. what happens when they go to Lexington for school and binge drink to death because they were culture shocked. Grow up, bootleggers don't check ID's,businesses will.

Posted by: laura Location: lexington on Aug 22, 2008 at 10:13 AM
If Garrard County's ecomony is so bad, maybe the federal government should considering legalizing hemp so the farmers in the area would have an actual imcome again. So much farm land is being sold in the area because of tobacco buyouts and developers are scooping them up for housing. As we all now the housing market is at rock bottom. So lets help the farmers re-energize the economy. Give them a viable crop again. Hemp can be regulated just as well as tobacco has been over the years. Big business/government is killing the working class people.

Posted by: Joey Location: Lex on Aug 22, 2008 at 07:51 AM
Listen up you tea-totaling fools. It's not the alcohol; it's the person drinking the alcohol. If you're a jerk to begin with, alcohol only acts as an amplifier to show that you are a jerk. Alcohol can be used in a responsible manner. If the person CHOOSES not to use it that way, it is the PERSON'S fault, not alcohol's fault. This is all about choices. If you choose to drink it, you have the option to buy it. If you choose not to drink it, you have the option NOT to buy it. Everybody needs to quit pushing their morals on each other. Everybody has a choice and nobody is forced one way or the other.

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 22, 2008 at 02:26 AM
Wet or Dry? It doesn't really matter. People that live in dry counties just drive to the closest wet county to get their alcohol.

Posted by: Diane Location: Mt.Sterling on Aug 21, 2008 at 03:33 PM
So being able to drink is going to solve all of Lancaster's problems. I hate to be the one to inform you but your problems are just beginning.

Posted by: D Location: Lancaster on Aug 21, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Sale Time! Sale Time!

Posted by: grumpy on Aug 21, 2008 at 07:34 AM
going wet will not cause a person that dont drink to start but it will keep the money at home from the people that do drink I cant see any thing wrong with the county being wet most of the time the people that try to keep it dry are the bootleggers and preachers let people live and let live

Posted by: gmsg Location: foothills on Aug 21, 2008 at 06:53 AM
I don't understand where people get that less drunks will be on the road around Lancaster, when they will be coming from everywhere to Lancaster. We will see if it is good or bad. I hope everyone is right and it will be a good thing, I just have my doubts.

Posted by: PV Location: Lancaster on Aug 20, 2008 at 03:11 PM
It is about time!!! I would rather give my money to Lancaster (where I live) instead of giving it to Nicholasville or Lexington.

Posted by: Chester Location: Stanford on Aug 20, 2008 at 01:39 PM
Thank you for voting it wet. Now i can just zip up to lancaster to buy my beer now. I won't have to drive all the way to Nicholasville. And I usually spend money on other things in Nicholasville while getting my beer. Now since I just have to drive to Lancaster, I'll spend some of that money in Lancaster. How long will it be before a gas station will be allowed to sell packaged beer?

Posted by: Don Rinthen Location: Lancaster on Aug 20, 2008 at 11:49 AM
So whos gonna be the next millionaire in Garrard County to open up a Liquor Store on US 27? If someone had one on the south side, it would pull people from Lincoln, Pulaski and Rockcastle..... MONEY is to be made people!

Posted by: SGT Howard Location: Afghanistan on Aug 20, 2008 at 09:59 AM
Looks like Nicholasville just lost thousands in revenue from us folks from Lincoln and Garred Co. no more 60 mile round trips, thats smart and keeps alot of money in the county that way as well as all those tax revenues that will be coming in next year, sucks for Jessamine county half of their customers where from down south.

Posted by: Lj Location: Lexington on Aug 20, 2008 at 08:16 AM
As always you believe alcohol is the answer to stimulate growth. Does Garrard County have a smoking ban? Lexington tells people "drink up but you can't smoke up".

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Lancaster on Aug 20, 2008 at 07:43 AM
1st Gov. Beshear Then yes vote passed what's next? Barack "Husein" Obama???? What has this world come to??? Open your eyes! Don't you see it?

Posted by: Someone who cares Location: Lancaster on Aug 20, 2008 at 07:31 AM
More revenue that's a joke. The poorest counties in Ky are wet. Where is their revenue? When alcohol related deaths go up on Kentucky's already deadliest highway which happens to run straight through Lancaster will be on the voters who voted "yes". They will try to justify it. But don't take my word for it check the statistics. What if it was your child? Would you have still voted yes???

Posted by: Dave Location: Garden Springs on Aug 20, 2008 at 06:25 AM
Drunk driving accidents usually happen in dry counties? I guess we have a large group of people in Lexington wrongly convicted for DUI?

Posted by: Bubba Johnson Location: Stanford on Aug 20, 2008 at 02:12 AM
Good! I'm tired of that long and expensive drive to Nicholasville to get a bottle of whiskey or a 12 pack of beer. Sheesh. I will now use less gasoline and spend money to purchase a perfectly legal product. And if I end up helping spur the economic community in Lancaster, the better.

Posted by: Shana Location: Lancaster KY on Aug 20, 2008 at 01:46 AM
I think this is a great idea!! As a professional bartender, I'm looking forward to not having to drive half an hour to work each day! This will really be good for economy in this small town!!

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 19, 2008 at 06:31 PM
the whole county should have the right to vote. We all pay taxes to this county so we should have the right to say yes or no

Posted by: John Location: Danville on Aug 19, 2008 at 04:13 PM
I hope lancaster votes Wet...Which is smarter than Danville which voted Moist...You know the place that you can go out and drink then drive home,but you can't go to the store and buy alcohol to drink in your own home...

Posted by: William Location: Mt Vernon on Aug 19, 2008 at 04:01 PM
It is not an issue of making it easier for people to buy alcohol, but an issue of how do the counties find revenue to augment their cash strapped budgets??!! Raising taxes is not an option anymore. The lower income cannot afford higher taxes. Going wet, though, will keep a lot of people from driving 50-60 miles to buy their booze, thereby keeping a lot of drunks off the highway.

Posted by: K.C. Location: Lancaster on Aug 19, 2008 at 03:54 PM
Of courswe Lancaster should go wet! "I live just outside of town and cnnot vote today, but if I could I would vote YES! We need something to stimulate our economy and this is it. This is not a vote for bars or strip clubs, only liquor by the drink and package beer in gas stations. Many in this town are old-fashioned and cannot see how bad our town really is. With only 2 sit down restaraunts, which are not of quality, this is the only way to help our town. I encourage everyone in town to vote YES! otherwise this town will blow away.

Posted by: Don Rinthen Location: Lancaster on Aug 19, 2008 at 02:25 PM
Vote WET people!

Posted by: Jerry Location: Lex on Aug 19, 2008 at 02:17 PM
There is no such thing as a "dry" county in Kentucky. Only counties that think they are.

Posted by: Sherry on Aug 19, 2008 at 02:07 PM
I grew up in Lancaster but have now moved away. I am against alchol use, howevever, Lancaster is in need of a boost, and if the people are going to drink why not let them buy it in Lancaster and spend the money in Lancaster.

Posted by: Rob Location: Lexington on Aug 19, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Drunk driving accidents usually do happen in dry counties!! They have to drive to far to get it.At least if it goes wet more money will be used for police!! I was also hit by a drunk driver in a dry county,but...if it had been wet he wouldn't have drove for 60 miles to get it!!

Posted by: Not from Lancaster Location: Eastern Kentucky on Aug 19, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Dry counties just promote drinking and driving. Kentucky is the only state I know of with dry counties. It's an out dated concept.

Posted by: Annis Location: Garrard Co. on Aug 19, 2008 at 09:29 AM
I don't understand why the whole county couldn't vote on the wet dry issue. We as people in the county can be effected by this vote also, whichever way it goes.

Posted by: JP Location: Richmond on Aug 19, 2008 at 09:21 AM
I wish I still lived in Garrard County I would vote yes for sure! That town needs something to stimulate it's growth! Maybe more people would visit if there were more restaurants and more things to do. I hope it passes for the people of Lancaster!

Posted by: Kendal Location: Lex on Aug 19, 2008 at 09:18 AM
Honestly if folks want alcohol they will find a way to get it. Whether it is a wet county or not. I mean right now they drive to Nicholasville DRUNK to get it so they are only on the roads DRUNK endangering innocent folks. I say they are going to drink either way...so make it easier access and keep them off the roads DRUNK!!!!

Posted by: Gale Location: Lancaster on Aug 19, 2008 at 08:08 AM
I voted NO and not ashamed. Let's face it...we have enough things wrond in Lancaster without adding to the drug, and stealing etc problems. I was hit in lancaster by a drunk driver many years ago. Is this what we want? Kids and adults having easy acess to liquor and ending up hurting someone or themselves. Maybe killing someone like like a recent accident did.

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