Starting Monday morning, people can by strong beer at Kansas grocery and convenience stores.
Prior to April 1, only liquor stores were allowed to sell beer stronger than 3.2 percent alcohol in Kansas. Some people call the weaker stuff "near beer." Stronger suds is called "real beer."
Gov. Jeff Colyer signed a law in March 2018 that allowed for the change.
One of the biggest winners is Quik Trip. The company stands to make a lot of money, said Mike Thornburgh, company spokesman.
An average convenience store in this country, their total inside sales of beer products is roughly around 10 to 12 percent, but in the state of Kansas it's one percent," Thornburgh said. "Their sales are going to really expand."
The Kansas Association of Beverage Retailers says its members are concerned with the increased competition. Some will look into moving more non-alcoholic merchandise. Liquor stores can now sell tobacco, mixers, sodas and snacks. By law, those products cannot exceed 20 percent of gross sales.
