What is the thinking behind having dry counties in the United States?

     Prohibition ended some 80 years ago, however in many places in the United States it is still illegal to purchase alcohol. Why is this? The answer is that after prohibition was repealed, the federal government no longer regulated the sale of alcohol. This responsibility was left to the state and local levels. Many areas decided to continue to be alcohol-free, and thus the dry county was born. Tennessee leads all other states in the percentage of dry counties compared to total counties in the state, with 91 of its 95 counties being dry. Here in Kentucky, 44 of our 120 counties are dry.

      

     However, many counties are changing their thinking and have voted to become “wet”. This is due to a weakening opposition to those wanting the change. According to USA Today, “The fall of Dry America has many causes. The recession has made governments desperate for tax revenue; national restaurant and supermarket chains are leery of opening where they can't sell alcohol; referendum law changes in states such as Texas and Alabama have made it easier for wet advocates to force local alcohol law elections.”

Dan FR

References:
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-06-30-dry-counties_N.htm