The Alcohol laws of Tennessee are distinct in that they vary considerably by county.
Local government jurisdictions (counties & municipalities) in Tennessee by default are dry and do not allow the sales of liquor or wine. These governments must amend the laws to allow for liquor-by-the-drink sales and retail package stores. In many cases, the county may be dry, but a municipality is wet. The sale of beer is not affected by a dry or wet designation. This list may not reflect recent changes.
Dry counties
In a "dry County", the sale of alcohol and alcoholic beverages is prohibited or restricted – 5 out of Tennessee's 95 counties are completely dry.
Moore County (Despite being home to Jack Daniel's Distillery, Moore County itself had been completely dry. However, the county now allows the sale of commemorative bottles of Jack in the White Rabbit Bottle Shop and one can take part in a sampling tour at the distillery. It is also now possible to sample wine, rum, vodka and whiskey in shops where it is distilled on premises. Beer is also available in local food establishments when served with a meal)
The designation of a "wet county" applies to jurisdictions where the sale of alcohol and alcoholic beverages is permitted – 10 out of Tennessee's 95 counties are wet. The state's four largest cities,
Memphis (Shelby),
Nashville (Davidson),
Knoxville (Knox), and
Chattanooga (Hamilton), are located in "wet counties".
In a "moist county", the sale of alcohol and alcoholic beverages in certain jurisdictions is permitted. This designation applies to 80 out of Tennessee's 95 counties.
Decatur County Retail package stores (2022 referendum).[4] Liquor-by-the-drink in restaurants with a dining capacity of 75 or greater within three miles of the Tennessee River
Henderson County Retail package stores ONLY (no liquor-by-the-drink), and only within the city limits of Lexington, new referendum passed September 8, 2011
Hickman County Retail package stores ONLY and only within the city limits of
Centerville. This is due to state law not allowing liquor stores in unincorporated areas. Centerville is the only incorporated city in the county.
Wayne County Retail package stores in Clifton (2018 referendum) and liquor-by-the-drink in restaurants with a dining capacity of 75 or greater within three miles of Tennessee River
By 1810, registered
distilleries numbered 14,191 and were producing 25.5 million gallons of
whiskey.[9] In 2009, the
Tennessee General Assembly amended the statute that had for many years limited the
distillation of
drinkable spirits to just three counties (Lincoln, Moore, and Coffee). The revised law allows distilleries to be established in 41 additional counties (counties in which liquor-by-the-drink was legal). This change was expected to lead to the establishment of small distilleries, thus increasing the number of producers of Tennessee whiskey.[10] As of March 2013, there are five brands with at least one Tennessee whiskey on the market, and several with whiskey in the
barrel awaiting release.[11]