Kansas Senate Rejects Stronger Beer Sales in C-Stores

Similar bill awaits a vote in the Kansas House of Representatives.

May 19, 2015

TOPEKA — Last week, Kansas state senators rejected a plan to expand alcohol sales by grocery, big-box and convenience stores. Voting 26-11, senators turned down a floor amendment that would have allowed the stores to sell full-strength beer – under current law, they can sell only beer and coolers with a maximum alcohol content of 3.2%.

Uncork Kansas, a coalition including QuikTrip, Hy-Vee and other chains, had pushed hard to bring a bill to the floor to allow their stores to sell hard liquor and wine as well as beer. However their effort faced strong opposition by associations representing independent liquor retailers, the only ones now allowed to sell full-strength packaged alcohol.

According to news reports, a spokesperson for Uncork Kansas said the Senate defeat isn’t the end of the effort and the group will continue to press for expanded sales of full-strength alcoholic beverages. The amendment considered last week only addressed beer sales and not wine and spirits.

Proponents of changing the law said it’s ridiculous that shoppers have to go to more than one store to stock up for a dinner party, while opponents contend that the amendment would give large retailers a competitive advantage over hundreds of mom-and-pop liquor stores throughout the state.

The Kansas Senate is not expected to take up any more alcohol bills this session, so another run at an Uncork proposal seems unlikely; however, the House version of the Uncork bill (H.B. 2200) has passed out of committee but has so far been in limbo awaiting a floor vote.

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