Wet-Dry Referenda in Kentucky and the Persistence of Prohibition Forces

Kentucky's history and present is marked by stark contrasts in alcohol production and sales. While the distillery industry has a long history in German-settled areas around Louisville and along the Ohio River, there have been religious and temperance groups since early in the nineteenth century opposed to sales. The strength of prohibition forces was evident in gubernatorial races and legislative proposals that led up to enactment of statewide prohibition in 1919. This proposed amendment to the Kentucky Constitution was narrowly approved by voters; in 1933 the "wet" or repeal voters again were in the majority, but not without much opposition from Southern Baptists and other fundamentalist denominations. During the past three decades, the "dry" forces have continued to influence proposed alcoholic beverage sales petitions in much of small-city and rural Kentucky. While the "dry" forces consider the question of sales a moral issue, supporters of sales tout potential convention and tourist dollars and attracting outside industries. Persistence of prohibition forces is evident in the state's having 75 dry and 30 wet counties and 15 "moist" counties (dry counties that contain wet cities).