Supporters of alcohol sales say it can help raise revenue while supplying attendees with what has become an expected part of attending events. Opponents have argued that fairs are geared more toward children than other kinds of events and should not risk any trouble brought on by beer-soaked crowds.
“County fairs are some of the last reluctant ones to go to alcohol,” said Charlie Cox, owner and founder of Concessions by Cox, which is contracted by Montgomery and Warren counties and the Ohio State Fair to serve alcohol.
Montgomery County was one of the first in the state to offer beer, and it has made between about $5,000 and $10,000 per year from the enterprise, said general manager Dan Bullen. Last year, the first that the Greene County Fair offered beer, it made about $2,000, said fair board president Keith Sheridan.
Even with the possibility of more money a majority of county fairs in Ohio do not offer alcohol, officials said.
“Because it’s all about the kids, even more than most things,” said Shelly Keller, manager and secretary of the Miami County Fair. “Now, is there anything wrong with going to a designated area and going to have a cold beer? No.”
Fairs are among many events operated by non-profit organizations that can obtain short-term liquor permits from the state. According to the Ohio Division of Liquor Control, the number of these short-term permits in the state increased from 10 percent over the past five years, from 5,664 in 2007 to 6,249 this year.
The decision to sell alcohol includes votes by fair boards, approval from the fairgrounds land owners (often county commissions) and local law enforcement agencies.
In Clark County the fair board voted against alcohol sales last year. The issue did not come up again this year, said Allan Hess, the fair’s executive director.
“As we change board members, I’m sure at some point it will come up again,” said Hess. “I just don’t expect it immediately in the near future.”
Making the decision
Officials from most area county fairs said they have been asked by at least some residents in the past if they offer alcohol and, if not, when they would start doing so. The issue has frequently been discussed at meetings of the Ohio Fair Managers Association, as well.
“For a long time, you did not have restaurants that were also bar and grills, so it wasn’t as common,” said Kent Taylor, treasurer of the Butler County Fair who is a third-generation member of the fair board. “Now every restaurant that goes up has alcohol available. I think people expect it more.”
But that’s not enough for many fair boards or other community members to support the sales. In Greene County, offering alcohol was voted against by 74 percent of the county agricultural society three years ago. Last year, the fair board voted 11-4 in favor of providing alcohol. Sheridan, the board president, did not have a vote but said he was against the sales.
“I will say this, we did not have a problem (last year),” Sheridan said. “But that hasn’t changed my mind, no. I wish we hadn’t done it, but I was in the minority, and the majority rules.”
Cox said he founded his concessions business in 1957 after graduating with a teaching degree from Wilmington College. Eventually the Columbus-based business grew to provide food for a wide variety of events, then adding alcohol.
Officials noted that many fairgrounds offer alcohol for various other events throughout the year, even if they don’t sell it at the county fairs. In Montgomery County, officials decided the extra revenue was worth attempting sales.
“It’s not paying for a lot, but if it pays one bill for us, that’s a help,” said Bullen, the Montgomery County Fair general manager.
Most agreed that the fairs selling alcohol have faced little trouble associated with the sales. But Cox predicts more county fairs will turn to alcohol sales for the revenue and even could benefit other area groups by allowing them to take a cut of the money.
“As these fairs get experience and know it can be done without trouble, I think charitable organizations will take over (the sales),” said Cox. “It should be done by a local charitable group to keep the money local. I think they just want to know it can be done without any problems.”
About the Author