Lexington, KY looking at expanding Sunday alcohol sales

Lexington is looking to expand Sunday alcohol sales for restaurants and retailers.

Restaurants and bars are currently restricted to selling alcohol from 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. on Sundays. The rest of the week, alcohol sales are from 6 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.

Retail stores can sell beer and wine starting at 11 a.m. on Sundays. Liquor sales are restricted to 1-9 p.m.

Lexington Fayette Urban County Councilman Dave Sevigny said he has heard from restaurants and those in the tourism industry that the restrictions on liquor sales on Sunday hurts business.

“Both Visit Lex and The Kentucky Restaurant Association approached quite a few of us and have requested the change for Lexington — primarily as an economic development benefit for restaurants and establishments that host both out of town tourists and locals,” Sevigny said after Tuesday’s meeting. “I also received some feedback from hardworking 3^rd shift employees whose 6 a.m is simply the same as most people’s 6 p.m. “

Sevigny made a motion Tuesday to put Sunday alcohol sales into the council’s Social Services and Public Safety Committee. The issue is expected to be heard Nov. 14.

Sevigny said he has been asked to switch alcohol sales on Sundays to the same as Saturday through Friday — 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.

Many on council supported the move to make all liquor sales uniform in Fayette County. Kentucky counties have the ability to set their own local rules regarding alcohol sales.

“I, too, have had members of the restaurant and tourism community as well ask for this change,” said Councilman Preston Worley. Worley said many hotel and restaurant owners have pushed for it, particularly during peak tourism season such as October when University of Kentucky football and Keeneland fall meet brings out-of-town visitors.

Councilwoman Denise Gray said many restaurants and small businesses struggled during the coronavirus pandemic. Expanding alcohol sales may help them boost sales.

“I am fully in support of this,” Gray said.

But others on council were hesitant.

Councilman Fred Brown said he prefers the current Sunday restrictions on alcohol sales. The system has worked.

“I will stand by that conviction,” Brown said.

Councilwoman Tanya Fogle, who has spent 25 years in recovery from alcohol addiction, said she is hesitant to expand access to alcohol while the city gives millions to various nonprofits such as Shepherd’s House, Chrysalis House and the Hope Center, which have addiction treatment services.

“I see the other side of it. I’m just looking at Lexington. It’s a domino effect. We look at high crime and ways people steal out of stores,” Fogle said.

Fogle and Brown were the only two council members to vote against moving the issue forward to a council committee.

Beth Musgrave has covered government and politics for the Herald-Leader for more than a decade. A graduate of Northwestern University, she has worked as a reporter in Kentucky, Indiana, Mississippi, Illinois and Washington D.C.