Food and Drink Beer battle brewing in Kansas Legislature

Lzen · 01-26-2009, 12:30 PM

http://www.cjonline.com/stories/0125...81240011.shtml

By Tim Carpenter
The Capital-Journal
Published Sunday, January 25, 2009
Operators of convenience and grocery stores are trying to tap into a broader market in Kansas with a bill allowing the establishments to stock regular beer.
Advocates of the reform say the monopoly held by liquor stores on the sale of full-strength packaged beer should be broken.

Casey's General Stores, QuickTrip, Hy-Vee and similar merchants in Kansas are limited to offering cereal-malt beverages, sometimes known as "weak" or "3.2" beer. The market for this type of beer collapsed more than two decades ago when the state raised the minimum legal drinking age to 21.
"Our industry is out to recapture the share of the market we lost," said Bob Alderson, a Topeka attorney and a lobbyist representing Casey's.
He said similar proposals had been spiked in the past, but there is too much at stake to quit the fight. Bills redefining what type of beer can be sold in convenience and grocery stores have been drafted for consideration during the 2009 legislative session.
Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, said Alderson and his clients would be opposed by an effective, well-financed coalition of business interests that don't want more competition.
In addition, lawmakers have a tradition of shielding "mom and pop" liquor stores.
"The liquor industry has been pretty successful over time," Morris said. "When different pieces of legislation are introduced, you don't see much change, whether it's a tax proposal or 3.2" percent beer.
Critics of the bill contend supermarket and convenience store operators want to win the right to sell regular beer so they can next demand the right to sell wine and liquor.
Anderson said the goal at this time was to eliminate from state law an outgrowth of Prohibition, which continued in Kansas after repeal of the federal ban on drinking in 1933.
In 1937, the 3.2 percent beer market got its start in Kansas when a state law was passed to permit the sale of "non-intoxicating beverages." This type of cereal-malt beverage must have an alcohol content no greater than 3.2 percent by weight.
A dozen years later, state lawmakers declared anyone 18 years or older could drink cereal-malt beverages. That persisted until 1985, when threat of a 10 percent reduction in federal highway funding prompted the Legislature to raise the minimum drinking age to 21.
The drinking age change altered the business landscape for supermarket and convenience stores, because much of the demand for cereal-malt beverages evaporated.
"If the drinking age was rolled back to 18, they'd take care of it," said Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka. "The likelihood of it being rolled back is slim and none."
Morris said there was "some" interest among legislators in reducing the legal age limit for drinking alcoholic beverages.
"People have said for years if 18-year-olds can go to war, why shouldn't they be able to drink?" he said.
Tim Carpenter can be reached at (785) 296-3005 or timothy.carpenter@cjonline.com.

**Reaper16** · 01-26-2009, 01:20 PM

MO kicks ass.

BWillie · 01-26-2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper16

MO kicks ass.

Yeah for this issue. Why the hell does KS give a shit about when you buy beer, where you buy it, and how much alcohol is in it. Hell, I think you should be able to buy beer 24/7 wherever you want as long as they get a liquor license. Then KS forces bars to close at 2 am, why can't we be like Chicago where bars are open until 5 am. That is bad ass.

**HemiEd** · 01-26-2009, 01:31 PM

Yeah, Kansas should follow Chicago/Illinois's lead! /Blagoiovich-Ryan

3.2 beer does suck, but it worked when I was 16.

**Guru** · 01-26-2009, 02:43 PM

This state is so back asswards.

sedated · 01-26-2009, 02:51 PM

I never even consider buying beer in a KS grocery store/gas station. It might as well be water in my eyes.

The sad part is that a lot of people don't know its 3.2 beer.

lazepoo · 01-26-2009, 02:51 PM

They have 3.2 beer in Minnesota as well. When I moved here, I unknowingly bought some at the grocery store and was pissed when one of my roommates told me that my beer was the watered down version. Not cool at all, and I don't know who would buy it when there are plenty of liquor stores that sell the real deal.

BWillie · 01-26-2009, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sedated

I never even consider buying beer in a KS grocery store/gas station. It might as well be water in my eyes.

The sad part is that a lot of people don't know its 3.2 beer.

Yeah, no kidding. When I moved here from Iowa I thought my alcohol tolerance had went way up. I was getting poed that it took 25 beers to get severely sloshed.

Darth CarlSatan · 01-26-2009, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

This state is so back asswards.

Finally! Someone admits it.

CoMoChief · 01-26-2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWillie007

Yeah for this issue. Why the hell does KS give a shit about when you buy beer, where you buy it, and how much alcohol is in it. Hell, I think you should be able to buy beer 24/7 wherever you want as long as they get a liquor license. Then KS forces bars to close at 2 am, why can't we be like Chicago where bars are open until 5 am. That is bad ass.

I dont know any bars in the KC area that close later than 3am and that's shitty ass Whiskey Tango in Grain Valley.

everywhere else closes at 130am it seems like.

**Guru** · 01-26-2009, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth CarlSatan

Finally! Someone admits it.

Better than misery.

BWillie · 01-26-2009, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

I dont know any bars in the KC area that close later than 3am and that's shitty ass Whiskey Tango in Grain Valley.

everywhere else closes at 130am it seems like.

I'm talking about Kansas bars, even Kansas bars in the KC area. Whisky Tangos....lol. That place is kind of cool once in a while, it's just a big ass shed. I went there one time and they had all you can drink beer on a Saturday for 5 dollars. It was something else. Yeah, I know MO bars close at 3 am, which is why I never party in Kansas just about. Alot of places in KS though say they close at 2 am, and start taking your drinks at like 120 am...it gets pretty ridiculous.

Darth CarlSatan · 01-26-2009, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

Better than misery.

You have exactly ONE oasis of "culture", and I use that term loosely.

Honk fer hemp, duuuuuuuuuuude!

DJ's left nut · 01-26-2009, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

Better than misery.

I'm hardly one to throw up MO as a mecca of high society and enlightenment.

But seriously, Kansas blows.

alpha_omega · 01-26-2009, 03:24 PM

LOL...."Beer Battle Brewing"

01-26-2009, 12:30 PM
Lzen Kicking it old school Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Topeka Casino cash: $21994	Beer battle brewing in Kansas Legislature http://www.cjonline.com/stories/0125...81240011.shtml By Tim Carpenter The Capital-Journal Published Sunday, January 25, 2009 Operators of convenience and grocery stores are trying to tap into a broader market in Kansas with a bill allowing the establishments to stock regular beer. Advocates of the reform say the monopoly held by liquor stores on the sale of full-strength packaged beer should be broken. Casey's General Stores, QuickTrip, Hy-Vee and similar merchants in Kansas are limited to offering cereal-malt beverages, sometimes known as "weak" or "3.2" beer. The market for this type of beer collapsed more than two decades ago when the state raised the minimum legal drinking age to 21. "Our industry is out to recapture the share of the market we lost," said Bob Alderson, a Topeka attorney and a lobbyist representing Casey's. He said similar proposals had been spiked in the past, but there is too much at stake to quit the fight. Bills redefining what type of beer can be sold in convenience and grocery stores have been drafted for consideration during the 2009 legislative session. Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, said Alderson and his clients would be opposed by an effective, well-financed coalition of business interests that don't want more competition. In addition, lawmakers have a tradition of shielding "mom and pop" liquor stores. "The liquor industry has been pretty successful over time," Morris said. "When different pieces of legislation are introduced, you don't see much change, whether it's a tax proposal or 3.2" percent beer. Critics of the bill contend supermarket and convenience store operators want to win the right to sell regular beer so they can next demand the right to sell wine and liquor. Anderson said the goal at this time was to eliminate from state law an outgrowth of Prohibition, which continued in Kansas after repeal of the federal ban on drinking in 1933. In 1937, the 3.2 percent beer market got its start in Kansas when a state law was passed to permit the sale of "non-intoxicating beverages." This type of cereal-malt beverage must have an alcohol content no greater than 3.2 percent by weight. A dozen years later, state lawmakers declared anyone 18 years or older could drink cereal-malt beverages. That persisted until 1985, when threat of a 10 percent reduction in federal highway funding prompted the Legislature to raise the minimum drinking age to 21. The drinking age change altered the business landscape for supermarket and convenience stores, because much of the demand for cereal-malt beverages evaporated. "If the drinking age was rolled back to 18, they'd take care of it," said Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka. "The likelihood of it being rolled back is slim and none." Morris said there was "some" interest among legislators in reducing the legal age limit for drinking alcoholic beverages. "People have said for years if 18-year-olds can go to war, why shouldn't they be able to drink?" he said. Tim Carpenter can be reached at (785) 296-3005 or timothy.carpenter@cjonline.com.
Posts: 28,530

01-26-2009, 01:31 PM	#4
HemiEd Same ol, same ol, 2009 again Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chicagoland Casino cash: $7231059	Yeah, Kansas should follow Chicago/Illinois's lead! /Blagoiovich-Ryan 3.2 beer does suck, but it worked when I was 16. __________________ Everyone on board the 10 and 6 train, toot toot! Smith, Cassel, Thigpen, Huard, Green, Grbac, Gannon, Bono, Montana, Kreig, DeBerg, Kenney, Fuller, Livingston Don't dare take a chance on achieving excellence at the risk of failing at mediocrity.
Posts: 23,276

01-26-2009, 02:43 PM	#5
Guru BANNED Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Middle of the USA Casino cash: $55082174	This state is so back asswards. __________________ But there is no RGIII or Luck in this draft. /truefan
Posts: 47,710

01-26-2009, 02:51 PM	#7
lazepoo Wizard Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mpls Casino cash: $18706	They have 3.2 beer in Minnesota as well. When I moved here, I unknowingly bought some at the grocery store and was pissed when one of my roommates told me that my beer was the watered down version. Not cool at all, and I don't know who would buy it when there are plenty of liquor stores that sell the real deal.
Posts: 463

01-26-2009, 03:24 PM	#15
alpha_omega MVP Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Liberty Casino cash: $141657	LOL...."Beer Battle Brewing"
Posts: 5,368

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