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Kentucky · Snapshot 09/05/2026

KRS 241.010: Definitions for KRS Chapters 241 to 244.

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  1. KRS Chapter 241

As used in KRS Chapters 241 to 244, unless the context requires otherwise:

(1) "Alcohol" means ethyl alcohol, hydrated oxide of ethyl or spirit of wine, from

whatever source or by whatever process it is produced;

(2) "Alcoholic beverage" means every liquid, solid, powder, or crystal, whether

patented or not, containing alcohol in an amount in excess of more than one percent

(1%) of alcohol by volume, which is fit for beverage purposes. I t includes every

spurious or imitation liquor sold as, or under any name commonly used for,

alcoholic beverages, whether containing any alcohol or not. It does not include the

following products:

(a) Medicinal preparations manufactured in accordance with f ormulas prescribed

by the United States Pharmacopoeia, National Formulary, or the American

Institute of Homeopathy;

(b) Patented, patent, and proprietary medicines;

(c) Toilet, medicinal, and antiseptic preparations and solutions;

(d) Flavoring extracts and syrups;

(e) Denatured alcohol or denatured rum;

(f) Vinegar and preserved sweet cider;

(g) Wine for sacramental purposes; and

(h) Alcohol unfit for beverage purposes that is to be sold for legitimate external

use;

(3) (a) "Alcohol vaporizing device" or "AWOL device" means any device, machine,

or process that mixes liquor, spirits, or any other alcohol product with pure

oxygen or by a ny other means produces a vaporized alcoholic product used

for human consumption;

(b) "Alcohol vaporizing device" or "AWOL device" does not include an inhaler,

nebulizer, atomizer, or other device that is designed and intended by the

manufacturer to dispen se a prescribed or over -the-counter medication or a

device installed and used by a licensee under this chapter to demonstrate the

aroma of an alcoholic beverage;

(4) "Automobile race track" means a facility primarily used for vehicle racing that has a

seating capacity of at least thirty thousand (30,000) people;

(5) "Barrel-aged and batched cocktail" means an alcoholic beverage that is:

(a) Composed of:

1. Distilled spirits that have been dispensed from their original sealed

container; and

2. Other ingredients or alcoholic beverages;

(b) Placed into a barrel or container on the premises of a retail licensee; and

(c) Dispensed from the barrel or container as a retail sale by the drink;

(6) "Bed and breakfast" means a one (1) family dwelling unit that:

(a) Has guest rooms or suites used, rented, or hired out for occupancy or that are

occupied for sleeping purposes by persons not members of the single -family

unit;

(b) Holds a permit under KRS Chapter 219; and

(c) Has an innkeeper who resides on the premises or p roperty adjacent to the

premises during periods of occupancy;

(7) "Board" means the State Alcoholic Beverage Control Board created by KRS

241.030;

(8) "Bottle" means any container which is used for holding alcoholic beverages for the

use and sale of alcoholic beverages at retail;

(9) "Brewer" means any person who manufactures malt beverages or owns, occupies,

carries on, works, or conducts any brewery, either alone or through an agent;

(10) "Brewery" means any place or premises where malt beverages are manufactured for

sale, and includes all offices, granaries, mash rooms, cooling rooms, vaults, yards,

and storerooms connected with the premises; or where any part of the process of the

manufacture of malt beverages is carried on; or where any apparatus connected with

manufacture is kept or used; or where any of the products of brewing or

fermentation are stored or kept;

(11) "Building containing licensed premises" means the licensed premises themselves

and includes the land, tract of land, or parking lot in wh ich the premises are

contained, and any part of any building connected by direct access or by an

entrance which is under the ownership or control of the licensee by lease holdings

or ownership;

(12) "Cannabinoid" means a compound found in the hemp plant Cannabis sativa L. from

a United States Department of Agriculture -sanctioned domestic hemp production

program and does not include cannabinoids derived from any other substance;

(13) "Cannabis-infused beverage":

(a) Means a properly permitted adult -use cannabinoid liquid product intended for

human consumption that has intoxicating properties that change the function

of the nervous system and results in alterations of perception, cognition, or

behavior and shall not contain more than five (5) milligrams of int oxicating

adult-use cannabinoids per twelve (12) ounce serving; and

(b) Shall not include:

1. Medicinal cannabis regulated under KRS Chapter 218B;

2. Any type of hemp tincture; and

3. Any product containing solely nonintoxicating cannabinoids;

(14) "Caterer" means a person operating a food service business that prepares food in a

licensed and inspected commissary, transports the food and alcoholic beverages to

the caterer's designated a nd inspected banquet hall or to an agreed location, and

serves the food and alcoholic beverages pursuant to an agreement with another

person;

(15) "Charitable organization" means a nonprofit entity recognized as exempt from

federal taxation under Section 5 01(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. sec.

501(c), or any organization having been established and continuously operating

within the Commonwealth of Kentucky for charitable purposes for three (3) years

and which expends at least sixty percent (60%) of its gross revenue exclusively for

religious, educational, literary, civic, fraternal, or patriotic purposes;

(16) "Cider" means any fermented fruit -based beverage containing seven percent (7%)

or more alcohol by volume and includes hard cider and perry cider;

(17) "City administrator" means city alcoholic beverage control administrator;

(18) "Commercial airport" means an airport through which more than five hundred

thousand (500,000) passengers arrive or depart annually;

(19) (a) "Commercial quadricycle" means a vehicle equipped with a minimum of ten

(10) pairs of fully operative pedals for propulsion by means of human

muscular power and which:

1. Has four (4) wheels;

2. Is operated in a manner similar to that of a bicycle;

3. Is equipped with a minimum of thirteen (13) seats for passengers;

4. Has a unibody design;

5. Is equipped with a minimum of four (4) hydraulically operated brakes;

6. Is used for commercial tour purposes;

7. Is operated by the vehicle owner or an employee of the owner; and

8. Has an electrical assist system that shall only be used when traveling to

or from its storage location while not carrying passengers.

(b) A "commercial quadricycle" is not a motor vehicle as defined in KRS 186.010

or 189.010;

(20) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage

Control;

(21) "Consumer" means a person, persons, or business organization who purchases

alcoholic beverages and who:

(a) Does not hold a license or permit issued by the department;

(b) Purchases the alcoholic beverages for personal consumption only and not for

resale;

(c) Is of lawful drinking age; and

(d) Receives the alcoholic beverages in territory where the alcoholic beverages

may be lawfully sold or received;

(22) "Convention center" means any facility wh ich, in its usual and customary business,

provides seating for a minimum of one thousand (1,000) people and offers

convention facilities and related services for seminars, training and educational

purposes, trade association meetings, conventions, or civic and community events

or for plays, theatrical productions, or cultural exhibitions;

(23) "Convicted" and "conviction" means a finding of guilt resulting from a plea of

guilty, the decision of a court, or the finding of a jury, irrespective of a

pronouncement of judgment or the suspension of the judgment;

(24) "County administrator" means county alcoholic beverage control administrator;

(25) "Department" means the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control;

(26) "Dining car" means a railroad passenger car that serves meals to consumers on any

railroad or Pullman car company;

(27) "Discount in the usual course of business" means price reductions, rebates, refunds,

and discounts given by wholesalers to distilled spirits and wine retailers pursuant to

an agreement made at the time of the sale of the merchandise involved and are

considered a part of the sales transaction, constituting reductions in p rice pursuant

to the terms of the sale, irrespective of whether the quantity discount was:

(a) Prorated and allowed on each delivery;

(b) Given in a lump sum after the entire quantity of merchandise purchased had

been delivered; or

(c) Based on dollar volume or on the quantity of merchandise purchased;

(28) "Distilled spirits" or "spirits" means any product capable of being consumed by a

human being which contains alcohol obtained by distilling, mixed with water or

other substances in solution, except wine, hard cider, and malt beverages;

(29) "Distiller" means any person who is engaged in the business of manufacturing

distilled spirits at any distillery in the state and is registered in the Office of the

Collector of Internal Revenue for the United States at Louisville, Kentucky;

(30) "Distillery" means any place or premises where distilled spirits are manufactured

for sale, and which are registered in the office of any collector of internal revenue

for the United States. It includes any United States government bonded warehouse;

(31) "Distributor" means any person who distributes malt beverages for the purpose of

being sold at retail;

(32) "Dry" means a territory in which a majority of the electorate voted to prohibit all

forms of retail alcoholic beverage s ales through a local option election held under

KRS Chapter 242;

(33) "Election" means:

(a) An election held for the purpose of taking the sense of the people as to the

application or discontinuance of alcoholic beverage sales under KRS Chapter

242; or

(b) Any other election not pertaining to alcoholic beverages;

(34) "Horse racetrack" means a facility licensed to conduct a horse race meeting under

KRS Chapter 230;

(35) "Hotel" means a hotel, motel, or inn for accommodation of the traveling public,

designed primarily to serve transient patrons;

(36) "Investigator" means any employee or agent of the department who is regularly

employed and whose primary function is to travel from place to place for the

purpose of visiting licensees, and any employee or agent of the department who is

assigned, temporarily or permanently, by the commissioner to duty outside the main

office of the department at Frankfort, in connection with the administration of

alcoholic beverage statutes;

(37) "License" means any license issued pursuant to KRS Chapters 241 to 244;

(38) "Licensee" means any person to whom a license has been issued, pursuant to KRS

Chapters 241 to 244;

(39) "Limited restaurant" means:

(a) A facility where the usual and customary business is the preparation and

serving of meals to consumers, which has a bona fide kitchen facility, which

receives at least seventy percent (70%) of its food and alcoholic beverage

receipts from the sale of food, which maintains a minimum seating capacity of

fifty (50) persons for dining , which has no open bar, which requires that

alcoholic beverages be sold in conjunction with the sale of a meal, and which

is located in a wet or moist territory under KRS 242.1244; or

(b) A facility where the usual and customary business is the preparatio n and

serving of meals to consumers, which has a bona fide kitchen facility, which

receives at least seventy percent (70%) of its food and alcoholic beverage

receipts from the sale of food, which maintains a minimum seating capacity of

one hundred (100) pe rsons of dining, and which is located in a wet or moist

territory under KRS 242.1244;

(40) "Local administrator" means a city alcoholic beverage control administrator, county

alcoholic beverage control administrator, or urban -county alcoholic beverage

control administrator;

(41) "Malt beverage" means any fermented undistilled alcoholic beverage of any name

or description, manufactured from malt wholly or in part, or from any substitute for

malt, and includes weak cider;

(42) "Manufacture" means distill, rectify, brew, bottle, and operate a winery;

(43) "Manufacturer" means a winery, distiller, rectifier, or brewer, and any other person

engaged in the production or bottling of alcoholic beverages;

(44) "Marina" means a dock or basin providing moorings for boa ts and offering supply,

repair, or other services for remuneration;

(45) "Minor" means any person who is not twenty-one (21) years of age or older;

(46) "Moist" means a territory in which a majority of the electorate voted to permit

limited alcoholic beverage sales by any one (1) or a combination of special limited

local option elections authorized by KRS Chapter 242;

(47) "Population" means the population figures established by the federal decennial

census for a census year or the current yearly population estimates prepared by the

Kentucky State Data Center, Urban Studies Center of the University of Louisville,

Louisville, Kentucky, for all other years;

(48) "Premises" means the land and building in and upon which any business regulated

by alcoholic beverage statutes is operated or carried on. "Premises" shall not

include as a single unit two (2) or more separate businesses of one (1) owner on the

same lot or tract of land, in the same or in different buildings if physical and

permanent separation of the premises is maintained, excluding employee access by

keyed entry and emergency exits equipped with crash bars, and each has a separate

public entrance acce ssible directly from the sidewalk or parking lot. Any licensee

holding an alcoholic beverage license on July 15, 1998, shall not, by reason of this

subsection, be ineligible to continue to hold his or her license or obtain a renewal,

of the license;

(49) "Primary source of supply" or "supplier" means the distiller, winery, brewer,

producer, owner of the commodity at the time it becomes a marketable product,

bottler, or authorized agent of the brand owner. In the case of imported products,

the primary source of supply means either the foreign producer, owner, bottler, or

agent of the prime importer from, or the exclusive agent in, the United States of the

foreign distiller, producer, bottler, or owner;

(50) "Private club" means a nonprofit social, fraternal, military, or political organization,

club, or nonprofit or for -profit entity maintaining or operating a club room, club

rooms, or premises from which the general public is excluded;

(51) "Private selection event" means a private event with a licensed disti ller during

which participating consumers, retail licensees, wholesalers, distributors, or a

distillery's own representatives select a single barrel or a blend of barrels of the

distiller's products to be specially packaged for the participants;

(52) "Private selection package" means a bottle of distilled spirits sourced from the

barrel or barrels selected by participating consumers, retail licensees, wholesalers,

distributors, microbreweries that hold a quota retail drink or quota retail package

license, or a distillery's own representatives during a private selection event;

(53) "Public nuisance" means a condition that endangers safety or health, is offensive to

the senses, or obstructs the free use of property so as to interfere with the

comfortable enjoyment of life or property by a community or neighborhood or by

any considerable number of persons;

(54) "Qualified historic site" means:

(a) A contributing property with dining facilities for at least fifty (50) persons at

tables, booths, or bars where food may be served within a commercial district

listed in the National Register of Historic Places;

(b) A site that is listed as a National Historic Landmark or in the National

Register of Historic Places with dining facilities for at least fifty (50) persons

at tables, booths, or bars where food may be served;

(c) A distillery which is listed as a National Historic Landmark and which

conducts souvenir retail package sales under KRS 243.0305; or

(d) A not-for-profit or nonprofit facility listed on the National Register of Historic

Places;

(55) "Rectifier" means any person who rectifies, purifies, or refines distilled spirits,

malt, or wine by any process other than as provided for on distillery premises, and

every person who, without rectifying, purifying, or re fining distilled spirits by

mixing alcoholic beverages with any materials, manufactures any imitations of or

compounds liquors for sale under the name of whiskey, brandy, gin, rum, wine,

spirits, cordials, bitters, or any other name;

(56) "Repackaging" mea ns the placing of alcoholic beverages in any retail container

irrespective of the material from which the container is made;

(57) "Restaurant" means a facility where the usual and customary business is the

preparation and serving of meals to consumers, tha t has a bona fide kitchen facility,

and that receives at least fifty percent (50%) of its food and alcoholic beverage

receipts from the sale of food at the premises;

(58) "Retail container" means any bottle, can, barrel, or other container which, without a

separable intermediate container, holds alcoholic beverages and is suitable and

destined for sale to a retail outlet, whether it is suitable for delivery or shipment to

the consumer or not;

(59) "Retail sale" means any sale of alcoholic beverages to a con sumer, including those

transactions taking place in person, electronically, online, by mail, or by telephone;

(60) "Retailer" means any licensee who sells and delivers any alcoholic beverage to

consumers, except for manufacturers with limited retail sale p rivileges and direct

shipper licensees;

(61) "Riverboat" means any boat or vessel with a regular place of mooring in this state

that is licensed by the United States Coast Guard to carry forty (40) or more

passengers for hire on navigable waters in or adjacent to this state;

(62) "Sale" means any transfer, exchange, or barter for consideration, and includes all

sales made by any person, whether principal, proprietor, agent, servant, or

employee, of any alcoholic beverage;

(63) "Service bar" means a bar, counter, shelving, or similar structure used for storing or

stocking supplies of alcoholic beverages that is a workstation where employees

prepare alcoholic beverage drinks to be delivered to customers away from the

service bar;

(64) "Sell" includes solicit o r receive an order for, keep or expose for sale, keep with

intent to sell, and the delivery of any alcoholic beverage;

(65) "Small farm winery" means a winery whose wine production is not less than two

hundred fifty (250) gallons and not greater than five hundred thousand (500,000)

gallons in a calendar year;

(66) "Souvenir package" means a special package of distilled spirits available from a

licensed retailer that is:

(a) Available for retail sale at a licensed Kentucky distillery where the distilled

spirits were produced or bottled; or

(b) Available for retail sale at a licensed Kentucky distillery but produced or

bottled at another of that distiller's licensed distilleries in Kentucky;

(67) "State administrator" or "administrator" means the distilled spirits administrator or

the malt beverages administrator, or both, as the context requires;

(68) "State park" means a state park that has a:

(a) Nine (9) or eighteen (18) hole golf course; or

(b) Full-service lodge and dining room;

(69) "Supplemental bar" means a bar, counter, shelving, or similar structure used for

serving and selling distilled spirits or wine by the drink for consumption on the

licensed premises to guests and patrons from addit ional locations other than the

main bar;

(70) "Territory" means a county, city, district, or precinct;

(71) "Urban-county administrator" means an urban -county alcoholic beverage control

administrator;

(72) "Valid identification document" means an unexpired , government -issued form of

identification that contains the photograph and date of birth of the individual to

whom it is issued;

(73) "Vehicle" means any device or animal used to carry, convey, transport, or otherwise

move alcoholic beverages or any produ cts, equipment, or appurtenances used to

manufacture, bottle, or sell these beverages;

(74) "Vintage distilled spirit" means:

(a) A private selection package; or

(b) A package or packages of distilled spirits that:

1. Are in their original manufacturer's unopened container;

2. Are not owned by a distillery; and

3. Are not otherwise available for purchase from a licensed wholesaler

within the Commonwealth;

(75) (a) "Vintage distilled spirits seller" means a nonlicensed person at least twenty -

one (21) years of age who is:

1. An administrator, executor, receiver, or other fiduciary who receives and

sells vintage distilled spirits in execution of the person's fiduciary

capacity;

2. A creditor who receives or takes possession of vintage distilled spirits as

security for, or in payment of, debt, in whole or in part;

3. A public officer or court official who levies on vintage distilled spirits

under order or process of any court or magistrate to sell the vintage

distilled spirits in satisfaction of the order or process; or

4. Any other person not engaged in the business of selling alcoholic

beverages.

(b) "Vintage distilled spirits seller" does not mean:

1. A person selling alcoholic beverages as part of an approved KRS

243.630 transfer; or

2. A person selling alcoholic beverages as authorized by KRS 243.540;

(76) "Warehouse" means any place in which alcoholic beverages are housed or stored;

(77) "Weak cider" means any fermented fruit -based beverage containing more than one

percent (1%) but less than seven percent (7%) alcohol by volume;

(78) "Wet" means a territory in whi ch a majority of the electorate voted to permit all

forms of retail alcoholic beverage sales by a local option election under KRS

242.050 or 242.125 on the following question: "Are you in favor of the sale of

alcoholic beverages in (name of territory)?";

(79) "Wholesale sale" means a sale to any person for the purpose of resale;

(80) "Wholesaler" means any person who distributes alcoholic beverages for the purpose

of being sold at retail, but it shall not include a subsidiary of a manufacturer or

cooperative of a retail outlet;

(81) "Wine" means the product of the normal alcoholic fermentation of the juices of

fruits, with the usual processes of manufacture and normal additions, and includes

champagne and sparkling and fortified wine of an alcoholic content not to exceed

twenty-four percent (24%) by volume. It includes sake, cider, hard cider, and perry

cider and also includes preparations or mixtures vended in retail containers if these

preparations or mixtures contain not more than fifteen percent (15%) of alcohol by

volume. It does not include weak cider; and

(82) "Winery" means any place or premises in which wine is manufactured from any

fruit, or brandies are distilled as a by -product of wine or other fruit, or cordials are

compounded, except a place or p remises that manufactures wine for sacramental

purposes exclusively.

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