DENVER – Will Colorado supermarkets and convenience stores be able to stock full-strength beer, wine and liquor? Yes, if voters approve a proposed ballot initiative from the hard liquor industry, the Denver Post Business reports. While lobbying for a legislative change, the Distilled Spirits Council is also hedging its bets with ballot measures on the issue of expanding liquor sales in the state.

Two ballot initiatives tackle the issue of enlarging the number of retailers who can sell alcohol. One proposal would let any convenience store or supermarket sell beer, liquor and wine, while the other one would restrict the sales to only 10 of the chain’s Colorado locations. Current state regulations only permit one grocery store per chain to stock full-strength beer, liquor and wine.

Earlier this year, supermarket-supported initiatives focused on approval of beer and wine sales at food stores. The council fears if liquor isn’t included, sales of liquor will suffer, as well as the state’s liquor stores. The council’s ballots were proposed to ensure “equal treatment for distilled spirits and consumer choice in Colorado,” Dale Szyndrowski, the council’s vice president, said. “If the consumer only has beer and wine to choose from, it's going to put a lot of small mom-and-pops out of business, and we think the solution is giving everybody an opportunity to grow up to 10 licenses.”

Meanwhile, both groups—the liquor lobby and a coalition of grocery stores—continue to try for legislative means to allow for an expansion of alcohol sales.