Legislation approved this week in Frankfort that would ease some alcohol-related restrictions could be a boon for many state and local businesses, industry insiders said.

Senate Bill 11 won final approval Tuesday in the Senate. The bill, which the House passed earlier, now awaits Gov. Matt Bevin’s signature.

Among the bill’s provisions are that it:

•would allow distilleries to sell alcohol by the drink, offer larger samples (up to 1 3/4 ounce from 1 ounce) and sell more bottles per customer.

•would allow microbreweries to increase the number of barrels they can produce per year (from 25,000 to 50,000) while still being considered a craft brewer and have a tap room. It also would allow them to sell their wares at small events or venues, such as a farmers market or festival, without as much red tape.

•would allow liquor-related votes by precinct instead of citywide or countywide.

•would authorize package liquor stores to give samples.

“This is a huge win for us and for all the distillers in the state,” said Clay Smith, senior head distiller of Corsair Artisan Distillery in Bowling Green.

Sean Stevens, owner of White Squirrel Brewery in Bowling Green, said the previous 25,000-barrel provision “limits growth. Expanding it can have a huge economic impact on the state.”

While his microbrewery is likely to produce only a few thousand barrels per year at this point, the increased capacity “is good for business,” Stevens said.

The provision relaxing the process for sales at events “is still a little muddled, but the (current) process takes a lot of time and a lot of paperwork,” Stevens said. The new rules “allow us to not have to go through all the red tape. It will help, especially with brewers my size.”

Smith said the provision allowing distillers to sell drinks is a highlight of the legislation.

“We are not interested in becoming a full-fledged bar; this is more of a tourist attraction,” he said, but having the ability to sell individual drinks, sell more bottles at one time and, especially, to offer more samples helps that tourism aspect. “That’s one of the big wins for us,” Smith said.

Both Stevens and Smith went to Frankfort to lobby for the bill with contingents from the Kentucky Guild of Brewers and Kentucky Distillers’ Association, respectively.

State Sen. Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, said he voted for the legislation “from the standpoint that (the laws) hadn’t been changed in forever,” and its economic merits of helping the state’s distilling businesses. “It’s one of our (leading) industries,” Wilson said.

“As a whole, this is a big step forward,” Smith said.

Corsair also has a facility in Nashville, and the legislation “allows us to compete state to state as well,” he said.

Also this week, the Senate passed legislation allowing the criminal records of some felons be expunged if they meet certain criteria. It would not pertain to felons convicted of violent or sex crimes.

“Lots of times kids make a mistake when they are younger and carry it the rest of their lives, and they’ll never make another mistake,” Wilson said, adding he has heard from constituents who would benefit from the legislation he voted to approve.

“As a Christian, the Bible talks about forgiveness, and this falls in line with that,” Wilson said.

— Follow city government reporter Wes Swietek on Twitter at twitter.com/BGDNgovtbeat or visit bgdailynews.com.