All of the region and surrounding Kentucky counties outlaw the sale of bottled alcholic beverages.
In certain areas, alcholic beverages may be served by the drink at larger restaurants. On the lake, the only area in which this is legal is the city of Burnside.
Though it is miles away from the main city by road, Lee's Ford Marina is officially in Burnside, and alcoholic beverages may be purchased at its Harbor Restaurant.
Regional cities relatively close to the lake where restaurant sales are legal like Burnside include Danville, London and Corbin. Restaurants near Byrdstown, Tennessee also sell alcoholic beverages south of the west end of the lake.
On the way to the lake, the nearest Kentucky cities where alcoholic beverages of all types may be purchased include Richmond (on I-75), Nicholasville (on US-27), Marion County (between Campbellsville and Lebanon on US-68) and Bowling Green (on I-65).
Package stores and roadside bars are located at the KY-TENN state line on US-27 (south of Whitley City) and US-127 (south of Albany).
The only "bars" on Lake Cumberland are found in several Burnside restaurants. The only one of these actually "on" Lake Cumberland is Harbor Restaurant at Lee's Ford Resort Marina, though all of Burnside's restaurants are very near the lake.
DON'T DRINK IN PUBLIC
Alcohol and its consumption is regulated the same in "dry" counties as "wet" counties in Kentucky. The legal restrictions apply everywhere in the state.
It is illegal to drink in public anywhere on the lake, or anywhere in Kentucky, even in areas where sales are legal. The exception is for drinking in the restaurants where sales are legal, and they are licensed to sell it.
As long as you are at least 21 years old, it is not illegal to possess beverages or drink in private.
All beverages being transported must not be opened, in sealed containers. If you are carrying a very large quantity, a subjective decision could be made by a law enforcement officer that you might be illegally transporting them for the purpose of resale: that is, "bootlegging" for which you could be arrested.
All of Lake Cumberland is considered a public place. If you are outside the cabin of your boat drinking beer out of a labeled container, it is no different that sitting on the side of the road drinking beer or walking down the sidewalk drinking one, and that will get you in trouble in both wet and dry counties in Kentucky.
When you are inside the cabin of your boat, you are out of public view and can legally consume all you want as long as the driver isn't drinking or under the influence.
If you become intoxicated in a public place, you are subject to arrest in both wet and dry counties in Kentucky.
If you remain inside the cabin of your boat while intoxicated, you are not in a public place anymore than you would be in a rented motel room and are therefore NOT subject to arrest. Kentucky law says you must be "manifestly under the influence" in a public place to be subject to arrest.
If you are driving a boat or car under the influence, you are subject to arrest in both wet and dry counties in Kentucky. The level of intoxication for driving in Kentucky is .08% BAC (blood alcohol content).
Typically for most people, .08% is a much lower level of intoxication than "manifestly under the influence" is. So in theory, it is possible to be in a public place less than manifestly under the influence, but still be over the level of intoxication to be legal to drive. In other words, just because officers see you dancing on top of your houseboat and don't arrest you for Alcohol Intoxication doesn't mean you wouldn't be arrested for BUI if they were to see you driving at the same level of intoxication, because the two different laws set two different standards for intoxication levels.
Holding an open can of clearly indentifiable beer or other alcoholic beverage while in public view can lead to your arrest. Many people use can covers.
Be very nice to officers, don't act intoxicated, to increase the chance of your day remaining pleasant.
DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT OPERATING YOUR BOAT WHILE DRINKING
An arrest and trip to the local jail could be the very least of the results.
