Kansas: Lawmakers take dim view on Kansas alcohol bill

Source: News-Press

By Zach McNulty

Feb 15, 2017

Officials from Atchison, Kansas, face an uphill challenge in Topeka, where a bill is aimed at revising Kansas liquor laws to the benefit of alcohol manufacturers like MGP.

That bill, HB 2141, proposes amending the state’s liquor statutes so that licensed alcohol manufacturers can obtain a dual license as a drinking establishment, which the law currently prohibits. The bill would benefit Atchison County’s alcohol manufacturers, MGP and High Plains Distillery, which could open restaurants and sell their alcohols inside with dual licenses.

Those speaking in favor of House Bill 2141 this week included Rep. Dr. John Eplee and Atchison City Manager Trey Cocking.

Eplee said the bill would allow alcohol manufacturers to stimulate and diversify the local economy.

Cocking said passage would create between 40 to 70 jobs in Atchison. Highlighting the need, he noted 600 jobs have been lost in the last two years in Atchison. He said HB 2141’s passage would have a “direct economic impact” up to $2 million.

“We don’t see any reason why this won’t work,” Cocking told a committee.

During his testimony, Cocking mentioned specifically MGP’s interest in potentially using dual licensure to open or subsidize a restaurant in the old Pepper Mill building, which stands empty across the street from MGP’s headquarters in downtown Atchison.

MGP can lease the building to be operated as a restaurant independently, but it can’t have control over a restaurant and sell alcohol, even its own brands, like Till Vodka, to patrons due to Kansas’ “three-tier system.”

The Federal and State Affairs Committee took no action on HB 2141. Those speaking against the bill included representatives of the Kansas Wine and Spirits Wholesalers Association and the Kansas Beer Wholesalers Association.

As a result of the debate, Cocking said he expects the bill won’t move further this year.