Liquor tax collection for December Corbin’s biggest haul yet

Corbin city coffers got a huge infusion of cash to end 2012 as liquor tax receipts exploded in December, easily outpacing all previous months since local approved expanded alcohol sales in February.

According to Bruce Rains, Assistant Chief at the Corbin Police Department, who also serves as the townÕs Alcoholic Beverage Control Officer, the city collected its largest one-month total yet of liquor taxes in December Ñ $76,857.

"We expected December to be a big month for alcohol sales, and it was," Rains said. "Plus, we had a full month worth of sales for both our local liquor stores so that made a difference too."

Liquor Mart, located near Trademart Shopping Center in the old Dairy Queen building, and Liquor King, across from Forcht Bank on Cumberland Falls Hwy., are already open for business. The town’s third liquor store, Ernie’s Fine Wine and Spirits, is currently under construction behind Applebee’s and should be open by spring or early summer.

A breakdown of the numbers show liquor stores in Corbin had a major impact on the total haul of tax revenue, accounting for $17,837.49 in taxes from beer sales and $36,343.71 from the sale of hard liquor.

Various grocery stores and quick marts in town paid $18,148.58 in liquor taxes for December. By-the-drink sales at restaurants accounted for just $4,470.79.

The $77,857 total for the month easily eclipsed any previous one-month collection of alcohol taxes. It beat November 2012, which was the previous high-water mark, by over $11,000 ($65,307.27).