Commissioners vote to consider distillery ban in unincorporated areas

Hamilton County Commission Legal Committee members voted today to consider recommending the full commission exempts unincorporated parts of the county from a recently passed law that would allow whiskeymakers to distill spirits.

The distillery law otherwise allows distilleries to operate in any county or municipality in which liquor is already sold in liquor stores and by the drink.

Currently, there are no referendums in unincorporated areas allowing by the drink or package sales. Legal Committee Chairman Jim Fields says the proposed resolution would require voters in the unincorporated county to vote on a referendum to allow distilleries to operate.

The county's decision would not affect distilling in areas incorporated with municipalities.

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