Panel drops support for Sunday liquor sales

? A House committee on Thursday withdrew its backing of a bill to allow Sunday liquor sales in some counties, then endorsed a measure requiring retailers to track buyers of beer kegs.

Just one day after endorsing the Sunday sales measure on an 11-7 vote, the House Federal and State Affairs Committee voted 10-8 Thursday to table it. The bill would allow Sunday sales of beer, wine and liquor in counties where voters approved.

But there may be life left in the measure, one supporter on the committee suggested.

“We’re going to amend it to the keg bill on the floor,” said Rep. Rick Rehorn, D-Kansas City, who predicted the bill would have died on the House floor if presented on its own.

Proponents say Kansas’ ban on Sunday liquor sales is an archaic holdover from the state’s past, Kansas having left prohibition in the state constitution until 1948. But others say the state doesn’t need to make alcohol more available.

The keg registration bill won Senate approval last month and was endorsed by the House committee on a voice vote.

The bill would require retailers to put numbered tags on kegs holding 4 gallons or more and record a buyer’s name, address and driver’s license number as well as the date.

Supporters say tracking kegs will make it much easier to prosecute people who illegally supply beer to minors and will cut down on underage drinking.

Store owners would keep the records until the rented keg is returned, or for six months if the keg wasn’t returned.

A similar proposal last year would have required retailers to keep records for six months, even if the keg was returned.

This year’s version resulted from a compromise between its main advocate  Sen. Jim Barnett, R-Emporia  and liquor industry officials.

Some members of the House committee complained that the bill would force Kansans to register for a legal product.

“It just doesn’t seem fair,” said Rep. Todd Novascone, R-Wichita.

Sunday sales is HB 2195; keg registration is SB 407.