FRANKFORT. Ky. -- (WDRB) A special task force met for the first time today in Frankfort, and it could impact everyone who buys or sells alcohol.
It's been nearly 80 years, since the end of Prohibition in 1933, that Kentucky examined its laws regarding the sale of alcohol.
And during that time, those laws have become a patchwork of more than 80 different types of licenses, a maze of obscure regulations and sometimes conflicting provisions.
That's why Gov. Steve Beshear has appointed this task force to look at modernizing and streamlining the state's alcohol laws.
"We're not going to try and solve all the problems in a short time. We can't do that. We've got to pick the things that we do have a consensus on," said Bob Vance, Secretary of the Public Protection Cabinet and chairman of the task force.
But with a task force made up of such diverse interest groups ranging from distillers and brewers to restaurants, lawmakers, and regulators, will consensus even be possible?
"I'm not sure that I'm bringing a big agenda. It's mostly look at what's there and see where things conflict and see if we can't make it make a little bit more sense," said Roger Leasor of the Kentucky Retail Liquor Coalition.
All this comes even as a federal judge this week found Kentucky's laws banning alcohol sales in grocery stores unconstitutional.
But task force members are downplaying any talk of an overhaul of the state's liquor laws.
"We're not going to try to make massive changes. We're really looking at taking some baby steps," said Gay Dwyer of the Kentucky Restaurant Association.
The task force has 4 months to come up with recommendations for the governor to take to the General Assembly.
"What happens in session, the House will have a couple of alcohol bills, the Senate will and we can't agree on either one, so nothing happens. This way, I think it's a more seamless system to get things done," said State Rep. Larry Clark of Louisville.
The public will have some input. The task force is planning to hold forums around the state in October.
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