WARSAW — Visitors to the upcoming Kosciusko County Community Fair will be able to buy beer and wine.

Fair Board President Kevin Harris confirmed the plan Friday.

The move comes as a result of a new state law that goes into effect July 1, allowing county fair boards the opportunity to sell alcohol or allow vendors to do so.

It specifically allows county fairs to apply for fee-free permits to sell alcohol.

Harris said they'll have a beer tent open in the evening hours and that individual drinks — beer or wine — can be consumed on much of the fairgrounds, much like the state-sanctioned DORA policy that allows cities and towns to establish districts for the consumption of adult beverages.

Harris said they do not plan to allow vendors to sell alcohol on the fairgrounds.

He said finances and the need to generate more revenue are the driving forces behind the change in policy.

The fair board has struggled with finances for years, but Harris said the circumstances in recent years involving insurance and utilities have made it worse.

“The increasing cost of utilities is just killing us,” he said.

Harris said they've sold beer at previous events, including during the fair and at the recent Freedom Fest.

He said in the past, they've made sure sales were not happening during youth-oriented 4-H events.

He said they did not seek out public input on the issue and understands it might be viewed as controversial by some.

“I don’t believe it’s gonna be 100 percent accepted by everybody … I’m sure that since our fair is a family event, there’s probably going to be some people that don’t like it, but once again, we’re just trying to raise money to keep our fair going.”

He said he does not anticipate heavy drinking as a result.

"Some people just enjoy having a beer or having a wine cooler with their meal or with the event they’re attending, and we’re just providing that service for them.”

The need for money goes beyond just financing fair week, he said.

“It’s not just the fair. It’s to keep the fairgrounds in operation," he said. "It’s just a financial struggle.”

Details on alcohol sales at the fairgrounds have not been released to the public, and Harris said they'll likely issue a news release soon.

The fair begins July 12.

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