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Wednesday, January 28, 1987 / University Daily Kansan
Senators debate necessity of beer sales classification
By ROGER COREY
- Staff writer
TOPEKA — A Senate committee debated yesterday whether Kansas should maintain a distinction between 3.2 percent beer and stronger beer, as revision of the state's liquor laws continued.
Although the Kansas Liquor Law Review Commission recommended in December that the state maintain the distinction between the two committees, the Committee on Federal and State Affairs continue to discuss the issue.
The review commission was formed to review Kansas liquor laws after state voters approved an amendment to member legalizing liquor by the drink.
"This issue is going to move slowly and be highly debated," said committee chairman Sen. Edward F. Reilly Jr., R-Leaenworth.
The committee's meeting was
prompted by an impact report made by the Alcoholic Beverage Control bureau. In the report, the bureau said that eliminating the distinction between 3.2 percent and stronger beer would not create much of a change in the bureau's workload.
Whether to maintain the distinction between 3.2 percent beer and stronger beer was one of seven issues presented in the bureau's report.
Presently, Kansas is one of only six states to make a distinction between weak and strong beer. A total of 48 states allow grocery stores to sell beer and 45 of those permit sales of beer containing more than 3.2 percent alcohol.
In Kansas, only retail liquor stores are allowed to sell strong beer. Grocery stores, gas stations and convenience stores are permitted to sell only 3.2 percent beer.
Supporters of the recommendation told the committee that eliminating
the distinction between 3.2 percent beer and strong beer would simplify beer laws and regulations.
Now, suppliers and wholesalers must maintain two separate inventories with two separate packages. Costs for the supplier and wholesaler would decrease with the elimination of the two-strength system, supporters said.
They also cited age as a factor. Because Kansas increased the drinking age to 21 for all alcohol, the need for a separate category for younger drinkers disappeared, supporters said.
Opponents of the recommendation, however, said age was not a factor in distinguishing 3.2 percent beer from stronger beer. They said that expanding the volume and variety of beers that grocery stores and gas stations could sell would create enforcement problems.
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