Timing uncertain for Kansas Senate debate on selling liquor in grocery, convenience stores

? Kansas Senate leaders aren’t sure when their chamber will debate a bill phasing in sales of full-strength beer, wine and liquor at grocery and convenience stores.

Senate President Steve Morris says leaders are trying to gauge support for the measure.

The state’s existing law lets grocery and convenience stores sell only what’s called cereal malt beverage, or weak beer.

Under the bill, Kansas would freeze the number of liquor store licenses until 2017. But a grocery or convenience store could ask the state for a license if an existing liquor store went out of business. Liquor store owners also could sell their licenses to grocery and convenience stores.

The limit on how many grocery and convenience stores could receive liquor licenses would be abolished in 2017.