High-profile "Beer Bill" legislation that would force Belgium-based beer giant Anheuser-Busch InBev to sell its two Kentucky distributorships is headed for a full Senate hearing, after a successful committee vote Tuesday morning.
The Senate Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee voted 8-3 to send the bill to the full Senate for consideration, according to Brian Wilkinson, spokesman for House Speaker Rep. Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg.
The move follows last week’s 67-31 vote by the full House to approve the Stumbo-backed measure.
The fight over beer distribution rules has pitted the interest of multinational AB InBev against the state’s burgeoning small-scale craft beer breweries, including Lexington’s Country Boy. At issue is whether AB InBev should be allowed to operate distributorships it owns in Louisville and Owensboro. State laws generally prohibit cross-ownership among the makers, distributors and retailers of alcoholic beverages.