You have a toddler who can reach the top of a counter area? I feel like by the time s/he can really make trouble, s/he should also be old enough to be warned not to mess with this stuff. Maybe you could transfer most of the bottles to the wine bins until the danger has passed, or find space in the high cabinet over the fridge...

Ummm... yes, my 2 year old twins boys can reach about 2-3 inches deep from the edge of the countertop. It's not worth the risk of thinking children at this age (or any age) to follow instruction of not touching anything 100% of the time, especially if it can hurt them (being glass) or possibly be ingested.

(giggle) What one cannot do, the two of them can together!!! And this is not just a problem with toddlers. Before you know it, they will be teens and no matter how well you've trained them, you cannot discount temptation, opportunity, and friends. Convenient and handsome display versus peace of mind and safety...find another spot for storage.

How about some miniature saloon doors? you can attach a little latch lock on it or a bolt lock and maybe put it in the back in case your toddler is tricky like mine and can unlatch almost anything. I found a few ideas on pinterest. They aren't incredibly hard to construct yourself...but they can be found on etsy. Here is a saloon style baby gate for a visual and this one is found on etsy. If that doesn't work for you, have you considered relocating the bar? We just just bought a house and turned our kitchen hutch that stored our plates and bowles and such, into a bar....eventualy I'm going to paint it but its really nice. My kids can't open the cabinets at all.

Haha, definitely put the liquor out of reach in another cabinet with a lock. And start teaching them limits--if you don't start when they are 2, they'll never learn.

As far as teens go, teach them how to drink responsibly. My son said that the college students who abused alcohol were the ones that never learned how to drink.

Just thinking? Maybe a tension rod with a curtain on it that goes 10 inches or more below the counter height? Out of sight, Out of mind? That way it's easily removable for when you need it and no damage to current wall construction. You might also find a retractable bamboo shade, which would have to be mounted tho, and pull it down as low as you please, and than hook and latch it with a childproof mechanism...there are so many of them! Or, they do great things with shower doors these days: In your case,you just need the center doors, a pair that come together and fully open and fold back hingest(don't let them sell you 'piano' type hinges)...Pretty fancy!?

From a design perspective, I see no need of bottles of anything…coke, alcohol, milk left on a counter. Clear it off and, when entertaining, offer what your guests will enjoy.

You know this, or you would not be posting your dilemma. Any risk to your toddlers, whether it be alcohol, cleaning products, electrical outlets, stairs…needs a lock down.

From a legal perspective, should your children get into the stash, and medical intervention be needed, you could loose your children to social services, temporarily, until you make your home safe for your children.

I know I sound dramatic…but accurate.

If you have unused wall space nearby a hanging cocktail bar could work.

Alternatively, you could take what's known as a "stove guard" and place it along the edge of the counter. I would recommend a transparent counter guard made of acrylic or one with thin bars so you can still show off your best bottles. You could even add a tiered shelf to the back of the countertop for both aesthetics and to put them further out of reach. Then top it off with nice lighting over the bottles to call even more attention to them.