The Arkansas GIS Office (GIS), in partnership with the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Division (ABC), is pleased to announce the publication of a newly developed map detailing the wet and dry areas of Arkansas. This initiative marks a significant step toward accurately mapping the state’s alcohol regulation boundaries.

GIS and ABC staff have worked diligently over several months to meticulously review and map the information outlined in ABC regulations. A distinctive feature of Arkansas’ alcoholic beverage laws is the concept of “Dry Townships.” When the United States Congress repealed Prohibition in 1933, the entire state of Arkansas initially became “wet.” However, in 1942, Arkansas voters passed Initiated Act 1, which established a process for local option elections on the sale of alcoholic beverages. Many of these elections were based on historic township boundaries, making accurate mapping a complex but essential task.  Those historic areas still govern alcohol regulations today.

To create a contemporary representation of these historic townships, staff utilized multiple historical map sources, including 1930 township maps from the Arkansas Digital Archives and 1936 maps from the Arkansas Department of Transportation. By combining these references with modern city boundaries, wards, and county lines, the new dataset provides an unprecedented level of accuracy in defining wet and dry areas.

This dataset serves as a crucial resource for understanding the state’s administrative and regulatory boundaries related to alcohol permitting, manufacturing, distribution, and sales. It includes classifications such as wet, dry, and exceptions, reflecting legacy county elections and statutory conditions. The mapped areas encompass entire counties, legacy townships, cities, and wards where regulatory conditions apply to the sale and manufacture of alcoholic beverages.

Additionally, following the passage of Act 655 by the Arkansas General Assembly in 2023, the dataset includes Arkansas State Parks, which are governed by Arkansas Code § 3-9-103.

The dataset will be updated as new local option elections occur based on petition-driven initiatives. Updates may also reflect municipal boundary changes in areas where city limits impact alcohol regulations. However, second- and third-level elections concerning the public sale of liquor by the glass are not included in this dataset.

The dataset includes key details such as the name of the governing geographical boundary—whether county, city, historic township, city ward, or state park—and its corresponding regulatory classification:

• Dry: The retail sale and manufacture of alcoholic beverages is not legal.
• Wet: The retail sale and manufacture of alcoholic beverages is legal.
• Damp: The retail sale and manufacture of certain types of alcoholic beverages is permitted under specific conditions.

To provide further clarity, the dataset includes a notes column detailing any additional conditions or restrictions. It also lists the designated ABC region for administrative purposes.

This newly developed dataset represents a major advancement in regulatory mapping, offering a clearer, more accessible view of Arkansas’ alcohol-related boundaries. The Arkansas GIS Office and ABC Division remain committed to maintaining and updating this information to support businesses, policymakers, and the public.

For more information

The data can be downloaded at https://gis.arkansas.gov/product/alcoholic-beverage-wet-dry-areas/

REST Services located at https://gis.arkansas.gov/arcgis/rest/services/FEATURESERVICES/Boundaries/FeatureServer/60

CREDITS: Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Division, Arkansas GIS Office