LOUSIVILLE, Ky. – A discussion on curbing liquor sales at around 50 Louisville, Kentucky, stores has morphed into a larger debate on banning overnight beer sales at more than 500 retail locations, including convenience stores. The Courier-Journal reports that the issue has pitted the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States and the Kentucky Distillers Association against c-store chains such as Thorntons.

Some Metro Council members asked that liquor and wine sales be halted after 2 a.m., which triggered a letter to the council from the national council asking them to include beer in the ban. “Laws or regulations that discriminate against distilled spirits prevent the spirits industry from competing effectively in the marketplace,” the council wrote. The proposal exempts bars and restaurants.

Lumping beer in with wine and liquor has raised the ire of convenience stores. “How about our third-shift workers coming off their jobs and not having their needs met?” David Bridgers, Thorntons corporate lawyer. While acknowledging that beer sales during the hours of 2 am and 4 am are a “minor” part of its overall sales, he pointed out to the Metro Council Public Safety Committee, “We never had a problem before.”

Jefferson County is the only locality in the state that has to okay special licenses for selling alcohol up to 4 a.m. Currently, only 55 retail locations have such a license, but if all the convenience stores were added, that number would jump to around 500.

Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton, a lead sponsor of the bill, said her intention was to lower alcohol-related criminal activities. However, police reports are sketchy as to how many crimes during 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. can be definitively linked to liquor.