Leavenworth ? Leavenworth has become the first city in the state to move toward allowing sales of 5 percent beer seven days a week at convenience and grocery stores.

The City Commission gave preliminary approval to a charter ordinance Tuesday night to lift a ban on the sales. But commissioners said many details remain to be worked out, and a final vote could come as soon as Dec. 30.

Commissioners said the issue comes down to fairness between businesses in the city and across the river in Missouri.

“We are trying to make this issue equitable for the business owners,” Leavenworth Mayor Laura Gasbarre said.

Lawyers for Quik Trip, Casey’s General Stores, the Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association of Kansas and grocers lobbied Leavenworth leaders for the ordinance. They argued that it wasn’t fair that liquor stores could sell 5 percent beer seven days a week, while convenience and grocery stores are limited to sales of 3.2 percent beer six days a week.