Kentucky Bans Hemp Beverage Sales in Bars and Restaurants
As of June 1, the sales of hemp beverages by the drink in bars and restaurants are now illegal in Kentucky, by order of Senate Bill 202, passed by the Kentucky General Assembly during the 2025 legislative session.
“We regret that legislative leaders have taken away a legal, safe, non-alcoholic alternative from adults who simply want to drink less alcohol,” said Eric Zipperle, CEO and co-founder of Cornbread Hemp. “But until our beverages become illegal on June 1, we want to celebrate one last happy hour with our friends at Hauck’s.”
Hemp Beverage Sales Carveout
Although the consumption of hemp beverages will now be treated as contraband in restaurants and bars, advocates for these products were able to secure a carve-out in SB202 for sales at festivals and fairs for the remainder of the year, according to Cornbread Hemp. This carve-out expires on January 1, 2026.
“Cornbread Hemp is interested in sponsoring events for the remainder of this year that secure temporary event licenses from the ABC,” said co-founder Jim Higdon. “If you’re a festival organizer, please reach out. But if you want any hemp product at an event next year, you need to talk to legislators today.”
To mark the solemn occasion of the onset of hemp beverage by-the-drink prohibition, Cornbread Hemp held an event in Louisville on Friday, May 30th, to raise one last Cornbread before the hemp beverage sales ban began.
What the Hemp Beverage Sales Ban Means
In a statement, State Sen. Julie Raque-Adams (R-Louisville) said the sale of hemp beverages in bars and restaurants is a health and safety issue.
“We were hearing reports of children getting their hands on them, and they were being sold in places that did not traditionally sell intoxicating products. So, we really needed to wrap our arms around it, and put some guardrails on cannabis-infused beverages,” she said.
Now, Kentucky residents can only purchase hemp beverages in select liquor stores across the state.
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